Dentures – Sherman, TX
Helping Our Patients Smile Again
Dentures have been used to restore smiles for countless decades, but over the last 20 or so years, they’ve received hyper-realistic upgrades, allowing patients to enjoy a full set of teeth that’s both functional and natural-looking. At Grant E. & Mark A. Smith DDS, our team utilizes the highest quality of dental materials and takes into account each of our patients’ unique smile goals to craft beautiful restorations that can improve your day-to-day life. Call our office today to schedule a consultation and learn more!
Why Choose Grant E. & Mark A. Smith DDS for Dentures?
- Family-Owned & Operated Practice
- Compassionate & Caring Dental Team
- In-Network with Delta Dental Premier
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Nearly anyone can get modern dentures, no matter how many teeth they’ve lost. The severity of tooth loss doesn’t (or at least shouldn’t) affect your candidacy. That said, you’ll still need to consult our dentists – they’ll confirm whether you’re eligible for treatment. Even if you don’t qualify at first, you can become a good candidate later through preliminary dental work. Simply keep reading to learn the exact details, or call us about them today!
Effects of Missing Teeth
As you consider dentures, try to review tooth loss causes and effects. Doing so will help you see what treatment has to offer.
Remember, people can lose teeth for varied reasons. One person may have a tooth fall out due to severe decay or a long-term infection. Meanwhile, someone else may lose teeth from gum disease - a condition that erodes the tissues supporting your pearly whites. Yet others could have a tooth or two knocked out by an accident or injury.
Unlike its causes, tooth loss’ effects are severe but narrow. The most typical one is that crucial everyday tasks – especially eating, speaking, and smiling- get much harder. At the same time, the resulting smile gaps tilt your remaining teeth and slowly erode your jaw. Those spaces also allow harmful oral bacteria to breed and cause dental problems.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Most adults with missing teeth can qualify for dentures; treatment lacks very strict requirements. However, you’d do well to note three major points.
For starters, dentures depend on good oral health to work. They’ll only remain stable when the jaw and gum tissues supporting them are strong and vibrant. When those body parts are weak and lack density, dentures are likely to slip and fall. Still, sensitive or decayed teeth aren’t disqualifiers; dentures can easily replace them.
Next, the number of teeth lost affects the type of denture you need. Only having a few missing means you’ll get a partial model, which only replaces smaller amounts. In contrast, our practice may suggest a full denture if you need to replace a whole arch of teeth.
The last thing to remember is that your finances also play a role. Compared to dental implants or bridges, dentures are the least costly tooth replacement option. They could greatly suit your needs if you have a limited budget.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
Don’t let yourself get down if you don’t qualify for dentures. After all, you can always consider and try our other tooth replacement options. These include the following:
- Dental Bridges – Dental bridges are fixed restorations, often made of two crowns fused to an artificial tooth or “pontic.” That means a dentist must alter nearby teeth (i.e., abutments) to keep them steady and stable.
- Dental Implants – Unlike dental bridges, dental implants are small titanium posts placed in your jaw. Their material lets them slowly fuse with your jawbone to become parts of your mouth. Though their design is effective, it often makes dental implants somewhat expensive.
Types of Dentures
Depending on how many teeth you’re missing and their locations within the mouth, you may benefit from any of the three types of dentures we offer, including partial, full, and implant dentures.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are designed to restore several missing teeth located throughout the mouth. They typically have a metal base that’s designed to fit like a puzzle piece between your existing teeth, holding the restoration securely in place. They usually feature gum-colored acrylic bases that anchor natural-looking ceramic or porcelain teeth in place.
Full Dentures
Full dentures have a different design, as they’re made to restore an entire row of missing teeth. The base is made from gum-colored acrylic and designed to utilize natural suction within the mouth to stay firmly atop the gumline. This will make eating and speaking easier. The base also features a complete set of teeth that can be crafted from a variety of lifelike materials, like ceramic.
Implant Dentures
Implant dentures are by far the most natural looking and feeling tooth replacement option available, as they restore the entire structure of missing teeth, including the roots. Instead of using natural suction or existing teeth to stay in place, your restoration will be secured to anywhere from four to eight dental implants that are surgically placed below the gumline and into the jawbone. Due to their biocompatible properties, they’re able to naturally fuse with the bone, making your replacement teeth unwavering and lifelike in every way.
The Benefits of Dentures
When you invest in dentures, you’ll be able to enjoy a variety of benefits, including:
- A cost-effective way to restore your missing teeth.
- Regained confidence and self-esteem.
- Preservation of your facial shape.
- A more varied diet with improved bite force.
- Customized to look natural.
- Easy to maintain and care for.
- An average lifespan of 7+ years with traditional dentures and 35+ years with implant dentures.
