As for esthetics, old dentures may appear larger than your natural teeth, making them look fake. No one wants to share a smile with obviously fake, large teeth. Modern dentures are made with contemporary dental materials that make both the teeth and the gum portions look natural. 

You’re living in a time when dentistry has excellent options to replace your teeth. Now, dentures can be securely attached to your jaws with dental implants. You’ll never experience loose, wobbling, slipping dentures or the need to reline your false teeth. In today’s blog, you’ll learn:

• What implant-retained dentures are
• Benefits of implant-retained dentures
• What the procedure is for getting implants
• Care and longevity of implant-retained false teeth
• How to find out if implant-retained dentures are right for you

Implant-Retained Dentures

If you have generally good overall and oral health, you will probably qualify for implant-retained false teeth. Issues like gum disease, poor jaw density, bruxism (clenching and grinding teeth), and some health conditions and treatments can make a person ineligible for dental implants. In the case of poor bone density, a bone graft may improve candidacy. 

Usually, four to six dental implants can reliably anchor one arch of false teeth. Dentures are fabricated with snaps, and they click in place onto implants. Implant-retained dentures can be fixed or removable, based on the patient’s desires. For patients with age-related cognitive impairment, we suggest fixed implant-retained dentures to avoid misplacing or breaking the prosthetics.

Benefits of Implant-Retained Dentures

• Will not slip, wobble, or fall out when eating a meal
• Strong enough to allow the patient no dietary restrictions
• Implants help protect the integrity of the jawbone, reducing the chance of deterioration
• Dentures will not rub against gum ridges and cause sores
• Dental implants can last a lifetime
• Easy care and maintenance
• Look natural and attractive
• Feel confident eating in public

The Implant Placement Procedure

To secure implants in the jaw, a brief outpatient surgery is required. During this procedure, the dentist will insert small, screw-shaped dental implants into the jawbone. Over about six to nine months, your jawbone will naturally grow around the implant posts. At the end of this period, the patient will return for exposure of implant heads and attachment of abutments. The abutments connect a set of false teeth to the patient’s jaw. 

All in all, getting dental implants to secure your false teeth will take under one year, unless you require prerequisite bone grafting or gum disease treatments. 

Care and Longevity of Implant-Retained False Teeth

Implant-retained dentures are easy to maintain. Use a soft nylon denture brush for twice-daily brushing. Floss daily. Do not smoke or drink an excessive amount of alcohol. Visit Dr. Matthew Bridges every six months or as often as directed. Your dental implants should endure your lifetime. If the false teeth wear down or become otherwise damaged, they may need replacement. 

Are Implant-Retained Dentures Right for You?

The only way to know for certain if you should replace your traditional false teeth with implant-retained dentures is to visit our Duncan dentist’s office for an evaluation and consultation. Dr. Matthew Bridges is accepting new patients and will be happy to answer all of your questions at your appointment. Call 580-255-4880 to schedule your dental implant consultation today!

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Tooth loss occurs for many reasons, including trauma, decay, and disease. But no matter the reason, the most important factor to consider is how to replace lost teeth. For patients who are missing an entire arch of teeth or have random, sporadic tooth loss, dentures may be the best option.

If you are in the Duncan, OK, area and need dentures but worry about them looking fake, you can trust Dr. Matthew Bridges. He has the experience needed and understands the complexities involved to give you a beautiful smile with one of his realistic denture options. He will fabricate your dentures to fit your face and smile’s natural proportions properly, ensuring they are the correct width and height.

3 Tooth Options for Realistic Dentures

At Chisolm Trail Smile Center, we fabricate our dentures with teeth supplied from the nation’s top-selling brand, Dentsply Trubyte. We offer three different tooth material options, and the one that’s best for you depends on your needs, desires, and budget. While the materials differ, each option is customized to blend in with the aesthetics of your smile and face. The result is realistic dentures that look and feel natural.

Option #1:  Economy

Even those on a tight budget can enjoy a beautiful smile. While the economy level is budget-friendly, the outcome is high-quality. This denture is fabricated using Bioform teeth, which are formulated from synthetic resin. A wide selection of shades and shapes are available to give you an aesthetically pleasing result.

Option #2: Deluxe

Deluxe is a step above economy and uses TruExpression teeth. This is the newest tooth option from Dentsply, and these upgraded teeth provide realistic shade blending and high wear resistance. The result is durable, natural-looking, realistic dentures.

Option #3: Premium

Our highest quality option utilizes Portrait IPN. These teeth are a unique blend of hybrid materials to provide superior durability and mimic natural tooth enamel. They are available in all 16 shades and deliver an unmatched combination of performance, function, and aesthetics.

The Most Realistic Denture Option

When most people think of dentures, they envision an arch of teeth held in place with an adhesive. They recall memories of their grandparents’ dentures that clicked and clacked while they talked and came loose when they ate.

Today’s dentures are much improved, and this is especially true for patients who opt for implant-supported dentures.

Implant-supported dentures are the most stable and reliable option. Instead of resting on the gums, they attach to dental implants placed in the jawbone. Not only does this option offer the highest level of support, but the implants also mimic the roots of the teeth. This stimulates the jawbone and prevents the usual bone recession that occurs with the loss of tooth roots.

Have you have ever noticed the “sunken in” appearance of the face that leaves a denture wearer looking older? This is the consequence of bone recession. Since dental implants help prevent bone recession, the face can retain its natural appearance.

For implant-supported dentures, Dr. Bridges will refer you to a specialist he trusts for implant surgery. The implants will take approximately three to six months to integrate into the jaw fully. Once this occurs, Dr. Bridges will fabricate your custom dentures and securely attach them to your implants.

Restore Your Smile with Realistic Dentures

Isn’t it time to stop being embarrassed by tooth loss? If you desire realistic dentures that feel and look natural, look no further. Call Chisolm Trail Smile Center at (580) 255-4880 or contact us online today to schedule your consultation.

The post Will my dentures feel and look realistic? appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Are you thinking about putting your ongoing dental problems behind you and investing in a new set of teeth? Both traditional and implant dentures can help you restore your confidence and get on with your life! Contact Chisholm Trail Smile Center to learn about your options for dentures in Duncan, OK.

The good news is that all dentures today are more comfortable and natural looking than in the past. Technological advances in imaging and material construction allow us to provide replacement teeth that are beautiful and fit perfectly into your mouth.

Traditional Dentures

Most people are familiar with conventional dentures. They adhere to the gums by the power of suction and dental adhesives and are used to restore your teeth for more natural eating and speaking. These dentures usually last about 5-8 years, but may need to be relined more frequently, as the dimensions of the soft tissues of the mouth will change as time goes by. Dentures are made of a combination of soft and hard plastics, and therefore must be removed and soaked each night when you sleep. This prevents the plastic from drying out and warping, and ensures they will fit properly for as long as possible.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Unlike standard dentures, implant-based dentures are connected to the jaw bone, much like natural teeth. Small titanium implants are surgically placed in the jaw; usually only four are needed per arch. Once the implants heal and become stabilized by new bone growth, a denture plate can be attached and used for all your biting and chewing needs.

The primary benefit of implant dentures is that they provide greater stability. The denture will never slip out of place when you are eating because it is securely attached to the implants. When you are ready to take out the denture for cleaning and soaking, it pops out of place via a snapping mechanism. Many foods that are traditionally too hard or chewy can be eaten with implant dentures, since they stay in place so well.

Implant dentures are also more comfortable than traditional dentures, because they don’t rub against the gums. The pressure comes from the movement of the jaw, so patients rarely develop oral sores or lesions, as can happen with ill-fitting traditional dentures. Another health benefit of implant dentures is the fact that they prevent jawbone resorption. With traditional dentures, it’s guaranteed that the jaw will “shrink” over time as bone matter is slowly re-absorbed by the body. The presence of implants in the jaw is the only option that can prevent this process.

How the Process is Different

When comparing the two types of dentures, it’s important to not how different the process is. With traditional dentures, the process may only take a couple of weeks. After teeth have been extracted and the gum tissue is healed, an impression is taken, which our dental laboratory uses to construct the dentures.

With implant-supported dentures, however, the timeline may take as long as 3-6 months or more. After the implant surgery, it takes several months for new bone growth to stabilize the implants before they can be used. Additionally, patients may need bone grafting or sinus augmentation to make implants possible, especially if they have already gone many years without teeth. This can add several weeks to the timeline. Although the process is most definitely longer, many patients prefer implant dentures because the feeling is much closer to that of their natural teeth.

To learn more about Duncan, OK dentures and implant dentures, make an appointment with Dr. Matthew Bridges. We will assess your oral and jawbone health and help you decide which type of denture is right for you. For Duncan, OK dentures, contact Chisholm Trail Smile Center at 580-255-4880 today!

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If you are looking for a tooth replacement solution, you’ve probably had plenty of people give you their recommendations, not to mention seen endless options online. The good news is teeth can be replaced, but you shouldn’t delay the selection process too long. The sooner a tooth replacement solution is chosen, the sooner your smile can be restored and you can protect your oral health.

When complete tooth loss occurs in the upper and/or lower jaw, dentures provide a quick and affordable solution. Please continue reading to learn more. You can also schedule an appointment with Dr. Bridges at our Duncan, OK practice by contacting us online or calling (580) 255-4880.

Traditional Dentures vs. Implant Dentures

We offer traditional and implant denture at Chisholm Trail Smile Center. The type chosen will depend on your budget, timeline, and oral health. Traditional dentures rest directly on the gums and are held in place with suction and a dental adhesive. We offer full dentures for complete tooth loss, or can even fabricate a partial denture when tooth loss has occurred sporadically throughout the mouth. This prosthetic uses both gums and remaining teeth to hold the denture in place.

Implant dentures are supported by dental implants surgically inserted into the jawbone. These come at a higher price point and require a lengthier recovery period, but are longer-lasting. Because the implants function as former tooth roots, they help counteract bone degeneration and promote better jawbone health.

Selecting the Right Denture Teeth for You

We fabricate our dentures using DENTSPLY Trubyte teeth, the nation’s top-selling brand. We offer three price points in our office to fit our patient’s unique needs. The main difference between them is the materials used, but all three are customized to blend with the natural aesthetics of your smile so you can enjoy genuine results.

• Economy: Even if you’re on a tight budget, with Economy you can enjoy a great looking and reliable denture at an affordable price. This ultra value, classic denture uses Bioform teeth formulated from a synthetic resin and offers a wide selection of molds and shades, delivering aesthetically pleasing results.
• Deluxe: As the newest denture design from DENTSPLY, Deluxe offers a step up from Economy using TruExpression teeth. These teeth are formulated from MXL, providing high wear-resistance and realistic shade blending designed for both durability and realistic results.
• Premium: As the most lifelike, Premium offers the best in natural anatomy, using Portrait IPN, a unique blend of polymer combined with a special hybrid of monomer. This material most closely mimics natural tooth enamel, while also provides superior durability.

Need Dentures?

If you are looking for an affordable tooth replacement solution, please contact our Duncan, OK dental office to learn more about dentures. You can reach us online or by calling (580) 255-4880.

The post Today’s Dentures are Comfortable, Attractive, and Durable appeared first on Chisholm Trail.

Losing your natural teeth is never fun, but dentures can give you back your confidence and smile. For patients who have lost teeth and are considering partial or full dentures, Dr. Matthew Bridges provides dentures at several flexible price points. Call Chisholm Trail Smile Center at 580-255-4880 for an appointment at our Duncan, OK dental office.

Many Ways to Replace Your Teeth

There are essentially two categories of dentures to choose from: conventional and implant-based. Conventional dentures are the most common, as implant-based dentures only appeared on the market in the past couple of decades. Conventional dentures stay in place by the power of suction and adhesives, and put pressure on the gums when you bite down and chew.

Implant dentures, on the other hand, attach securely to small titanium implants that have been surgically embedded in the gum tissue, where they fuse with the jaw and facial bones. Implants mimic the function of natural tooth roots, so they provide a more natural feeling set of dentures. Implant dentures also have the added benefit of preventing jawbone deterioration. Once natural teeth are lost, bone mass is gradually reabsorbed by the body, which contributes to the appearance a shrinking jaw over a period of decades. Implants can prevent this process.

Implant dentures cost more than traditional dentures and require surgery and a two-part healing procedure that can last from three to six months. Conventional dentures, however, can be fitted and fabricated in about two weeks, usually.

Partial or Full Dentures?

Both partial and full dentures can be crafted with or without implants. If you have several problem teeth, or have already lost many teeth, a consultation with Dr. Bridges can help you determine whether you need full or partial dentures. If your remaining teeth are strong enough to support a removable partial denture then partials may be recommended. If your remaining teeth are not stable, or show signs that they may be at risk of failing in the future, Dr. Bridges may recommend extraction and a full set of dentures.

Conventional Dentures – Many Flexible Options

At Chisholm Trail Smile Center, we use Dentsply to fabricate our non-implant dentures. This allows us to give our patients more flexibility in the teeth you choose. Our economy model is the Bioform denture teeth and the premium is the Portrait IPM denture teeth. Regardless of which teeth you choose, this fabricator provides high level aesthetics and excellent resistance to wear. Your new teeth will look natural when you smile and be strong enough to stand up to your favorite foods. Patients often remark at how life-like their new teeth appear, regardless of which model they choose.

Visit Our Office to Explore Your Options

Many patients suffer with missing teeth and oral pain several years longer than they should. If you’ve lost teeth to decay or gum disease, taking the plunge and looking into dentures is a step toward renewed confidence and improved quality of life.

To book your appointment, contact our Duncan, OK dental office online or call us at 580-255-4880.

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