Dentures

If you are considering dentures (false teeth), then you either have missing teeth which need to be replaced, broken or ill-fitting existing dentures, or you feel it is time to have your teeth removed and get dentures. Regardless of why you are looking into dentures, you can rest assured that Dr. Robert Seaman in Lenexa, KS has over 30 years of experience creating custom dentures for his patients. If you want or need a denture, you definitely want a dentist who is going to take the time to insure your new denture not only fits properly, but also looks great. You also need to determine the type of denture that is right for you, this page will cover those options and when you schedule a complete examination with Dr. Seaman, he will help you decide on the best solution for your needs.

It is also important to note, that if you have an existing denture and it is broken or loose, in some cases your denture can be repaired or relined. So always bring your existing denture(s) to your dental appointment so the dentist can see the problem and determine what can be done to repair your existing denture or if it is beyond repair and a replacement is necessary.

Traditional Dentures

A full denture replaces all teeth in an arch (upper or lower) and a partial denture is used when you are only missing some of the teeth in an arch. First, dentures (false teeth) are removable replacements for missing teeth. Creating a new denture takes a number of dental visits, a different step in the process is done at each visit to insure the proper fit of the denture.

When having a full denture made, you will be able to change your smile at the same time, if this is of interest to you. Since there are no remaining teeth which need to be matched, you can pick the shade and shape of the new teeth. If you were happy with your previous teeth or denture, we can also choose teeth which will match what you had before.

If you are having a partial denture made, then we will work to match the new teeth to your existing to make the denture less noticeable. A big part of this depends on which teeth are being replaced by the partial denture, obviously we will have a better opportunity to improve the appearance of your teeth when the partial denture is replacing front teeth.

Also, if your new full or partial denture will be replacing front teeth which have not yet been removed, we can usually provide an immediate denture for you. The difference in providing an immediate denture is that we leave the front teeth in place until the appointment when the new denture is ready to be placed. At that visit, we remove the front teeth and insert your new denture – this prevents you from having to go without front teeth while the denture is being made. However, this type of denture will require a reline of the new denture once the extraction areas have fully healed, as tissue and bone in the area of the extractions will shrink and the new denture will be loose in this area. This reline is included in the cost of any immediate denture.

Here are two short videos which show the steps involved in creating a new removable partial denture and a new removable full denture:

Another important factor in traditional dentures is how they remain in the mouth.

Full dentures are held in place mainly by suction (the tightness of the fit around the tissues and remaining bone), however, lower dentures also require some muscle control to keep them in place, especially when talking or chewing. This is one reason why many people complain about their ability to eat or eat certain foods. Also, the longer you have been missing teeth, the more resorption of bone (which used to surround the teeth) occurs, leaving less and less of a bone ridge to support dentures, this causes them to loosen and at some point (most commonly with lower full dentures) may make it impossible for a denture to stay in place.

Partial dentures are designed to gain some support from the remaining teeth, using clasps which fit around the natural teeth to assist in keeping the denture in place. So, the stability of a partial denture, especially on the lower is extremely dependent on the stability of the natural teeth, the less stable these teeth are, the less stable the partial will be. In fact, if the teeth necessary to support your partial denture do not have great bone support or have other conditions decreasing their strength, using these teeth to support a partial may cause these teeth to be lost even sooner.

These factors need to be taken into account by the dentist when deciding if you are a candidate for a new full or partial denture. You, the patient, also need to think about the changes you will need to go through when getting your first partial or denture – so you should discuss these issues with the dentist before beginning. If you do not feel you can make the adjustments necessary to wear dentures, then you need to look at other alternatives for replacing your missing or soon to be missing teeth, depending on the areas you are concerned about.

Secured Dentures

There are options when making new dentures which will provide you with a more stable denture. While a secured denture is still removable, it snaps into place, giving your denture more support and providing you with better chewing force. This security can be accomplished in two ways:

• Placing implants with special attachments and making a full denture with attachments built in it, so the denture snaps onto the implants when inserted and hold the denture in place.
• Placing crowns on existing teeth which have precision attachments built into the crown and partial denture, so the attachments fit together when the partial denture is inserted.

Either type of secured denture provides a more pleasurable denture experience, due to the following benefits:

• Easier to adjust to, especially for first time denture wearers.
• Less disruption in speech, since less acrylic is used, there is less interference with the tongue.
• More stability when talking and eating, they stay put.
• Ability to eat more types of foods, due to the increased stability.
• Better distribution of chewing forces so the dentures wear better and last longer.

Who should consider secured dentures? Anyone who is considering dentures to replace missing teeth, but especially if you are concerned about being able to adjust to wearing traditional dentures. Even if you have had traditional dentures in the past, you should consider having your next set of dentures made in one of these ways.

Here is a short video which illustrations the use of implants to secure full dentures in place.

Is there another option for replacing missing teeth, besides dentures? Yes! If you are not interested in wearing removable dentures then you may be interested in considering Fixed Bridgework. See our Dental Bridges page for more information on how we can replace one or all of your missing teeth with a permanent (fixed) restoration.

What is next? If any of the situations in the list below, apply to you, then you need to contact us to schedule a complete examination at Seaman Family Dentistry in Lenexa, KS, so you can discuss your situation and the options available to you for tooth replacement with Dr. Robert Seaman.

• I have missing teeth which need to be replaced.
• I have an existing denture and need a new one.
• I have a broken or ill-fitting denture which needs repair or replacement.
• I feel it is time to have all or many of my teeth removed and replaced but not sure how.
• I want to have all my teeth removed and have dentures made.
• I have an existing denture which I cannot wear and need a different replacement option.

We are here to help you consider all your options and provide you with replacement teeth you will be happy with. Give us a call, we are waiting to hear from you.