Prolonging Your Smile: What Type of Dentures Are Right for You?

While eyes may be windows to the soul, your smile is the gateway to the world. When the quality of your smile has been compromised due to extensive tooth loss, it can have a profound effect on your life. 

Your teeth work together not only to bite and chew, but also to support the structure of your facial profile. When multiple teeth are lost your appearance can change drastically as skin droops and facial structure may appear hollow or significantly aged. Any change of appearance can affect one’s self-esteem and desire to interact socially with the world. 

At South Anchorage Dental Center (SADC) we want to partner with you to help restore your smile giving you the confidence to live your best life. Call us today to explore options for creating your perfect smile!

More than Cosmetic Dentistry. Are Dentures Necessary?

Loss of a tooth can also affect ability to eat and even speak properly. These problems, including the risk for malnutrition, are compounded exponentially as more teeth are lost. Dentures are an attractive solution for addressing widespread tooth loss. 

Artificial teeth and gums are custom designed to fit your mouth and synthetically replace all or some of your teeth. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, dentures help prevent problems that arise from losing teeth. 

If multiple teeth become compromised or fall out due to reasons such as bone loss, accident or periodontal disease, dentures are an affordable option for gaining back your beautiful smile, overall wellness and quality of life. 

Basics of Dentures. Which Dentures Are Right for Me?

Having dentures fitted for you means that the pain and discomfort of problematic teeth are eliminated and replaced with a durable and beautiful alternative. Before customizing your dentures, a dentist will help you select the best choice beginning with examining teeth to see how large the gap is, where it is located, and whether there are still healthy teeth next to the gap. 

The dentist will also evaluate how healthy your jaw, gums and neighboring teeth are as well. As these questions are answered, the choices will become clearer. Some dentures are designed to be more permanently affixed to your mouth and can only be removed by a dentist. Others are designed to be removed easily by you and can be cleaned at home.

Not sure if dentures are the right option for you? Schedule a consultation and we’ll discuss your options. 

Different Types of Dentures

People who wear dentures may end up wearing multiple different kinds of dentures in their lifetime. As your oral health evolves and needs change, your SADC dentist will conform your treatment plan to best accommodate you and your lifestyle. There are both fixed and removeable types of dentures and the various types of dentures may be combined in different ways. For instance, A crown might be fixed on top of a dental implant, and then a partial denture could be fixed on top of the crown.

Fixed Dentures

Crowns and bridges are fixed permanently to the teeth. While a crown caps one tooth, a bridge can replace one or several teeth and is usually used to fill smaller gaps. Bridges require the stability of healthy abutment teeth or implants to be properly attached and remain safely in place. Bridges come in a variety of materials, depending on your needs, and offer both a cosmetic and functional solution. 

If your teeth are not healthy enough to support a bridge, your dentist may recommend dental implant restoration first. Titanium screws are inserted into the jaw, mimicking roots and triggering new bone growth to help anchor the new tooth into the jaw.

Removable Dentures

Removable dentures may be full or partial, depending once again on the size of the gap, as well as the stability and health of neighboring teeth. Modern dentures are designed to be comfortable and perform as well as natural teeth. They are considered a cost-effective treatment that creates a natural-looking smile.

Conventional Full Denture

Conventional Dentures are made for the patient’s mouth cavity after teeth have been removed surgically. Gums must have time to heal, which may take approximately 4 weeks, before the dentist can cast a mold and create the new dentures. The downside of this option is of course time; however, the upside is often fit and affordability.

Immediate Full Denture

Immediate Full Dentures are inserted in the mouth immediately following tooth extraction just as the name implies. These dentures serve as a type of bandage to both protect the gums and control bleeding post-surgery. This option is oftentimes more expensive due to the labor-intensive preparations prior to surgery. 

However, it may be easier to duplicate the shape and arrangement of your teeth prior to surgery while they are still in your mouth. Because your gums will shrink over time after surgery, it is important for you to maintain regular visits for your dentist to make proper adjustments. 

For many the benefit of time far outweighs the cost. Your dentist is available to discuss pros and cons thoroughly.

Implant-Supported Denture

Implant-Supported Dentures use dental implants to support the force of your bite. The implants fully support the force into the jawbone to give you the most natural and effective bite possible. In general implant-supported dentures are more expensive as they are made from higher quality materials and require more dental implants. They often cannot use mini-implants, so patients need a proper amount of healthy bone to support them.

Implant-Retained Denture

Implant Retained Dentures also use dental implants to hold them in place and can withstand the force of the bite on the gums. Unlike implant-supported dentures, implant-retained dentures can use mini-implants to secure themselves or require fewer implants altogether. 

They also have a wide range of material options available, which may make it a more affordable option for many. These dentures have the benefit of not coming out while talking or eating and giving somewhat improved bite force, but they don’t fully replicate your natural bite. Patients should remove their implant-retained dentures at night for cleaning.

Partial Denture

Conventional Removable Partial Dentures replace one or more missing teeth and may have clasps that wrap around healthy abutment teeth to keep them secure. Clasps may be made of resin material that is designed to be less visible, or metal, sometimes as part of a metal framework throughout the entire partial. The fit of the partial is very important to evenly distribute your biting forces and preventing trauma to your gums and natural teeth. This option is preferred by many because it is less invasive and often a more affordable choice while still providing a highly functional and natural-looking smile.

SADC Cosmetic Dentistry. Right Choice at the Right Price

At South Anchorage Dental Center, we recognize that your smile is an invaluable asset that should not cost you and arm and a leg. We offer Flexible Payment Options With No Surprises. We are committed to being transparent about our pricing and working with you to ensure cost does not hinder you from getting the quality dental care you deserve. We will work with you and your budget to find the best payment solution to meet your needs, including both in-house and third-party financing options.

SADC Dental Savings Plan 

Our SADC Dental Savings Plan was created to make paying for dental care easy and affordable even without insurance. All applicants are guaranteed acceptance, and any pre-existing conditions will not affect your eligibility. With SADC Dental Savings Plan, you’ll enjoy:

• Diagnostic and preventive care such as exams, x-rays and regular cleanings included
• 20% off all treatment including extractions, root canals, crowns, bridges, dentures, cosmetic procedures and more
• $1,000 off Invisalign
• 50% off CD (3D imaging) scans
• 50% off teeth whitening

Our family-oriented staff is dedicated to bringing you the best dental care in Alaska. We strive to be an Anchorage dentist who is there for all our patients whether local or from the Alaskan bush. With same-day appointments and 24-hr emergency dental services available, you need not worry about prolonged waiting periods for appointments. 

Ready to get started? Contact South Anchorage Dental Center today and let’s build your best smile together!