Dentures – San Marcos, CA
Get a Completely New Smile!
If you’ve watched your teeth fall out one by one over the years, or if you’ve had a traumatic accident that caused you to lose them all at once, you might feel like your days of smiling with confidence are far in the past. However, that isn’t the case—dentures can help you get a completely new smile incredibly easily!
If you’re near San Marcos, CA, Nelson Y. Howard DDS and his incredible dental team can use this prosthetic to replace all of your missing teeth. Make an appointment with us today and we’ll let you know what dentures could do for you!
Why Choose Nelson Y. Howard DDS for Dentures?
- Personalized Care from a World-Class Dental Team
- Prosthetic Design Informed by the Latest Technologies in Oral Medicine
- Expert Aesthetic Dentist with a Sharp Attention to Detail
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Nearly anyone with one or more missing teeth can be an excellent candidate for dentures. The first step toward enjoying your newly restored smile is to schedule a consultation at one of our offices in San Marcos or San Diego so Dr. Howard can evaluate your mouth and determine the best course of treatment for you. If he finds that you are not a good candidate yet, you may be able to become one later after having treatments to resolve issues like gum disease or reinforce your jawbone.
Effects of Missing Teeth
Tooth decay and gum disease are two of the most widespread health problems on Earth, and they, along with oral injuries, are the most common causes of tooth loss. Missing teeth can lead to a range of oral and overall health issues such as:
- The remaining teeth drifting out of alignment, making them more vulnerable to damage and infection
- The gums becoming more exposed to injuries due to food debris
- Facial sagging due to the teeth no longer supporting the face
- Trouble eating due to lost chewing power
- Difficulty speaking due to changes in how air flows within the mouth
- Atrophy of the jawbone due to a lack of exercise
- Diminished self-esteem
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
Dentures may be a great option if you have experienced extensive tooth loss, live with severe dental sensitivity, or have a lot of tooth decay as long as you have sufficiently healthy jawbones and gum tissue. Once you receive dentures, you will also need to commit to an excellent oral hygiene regimen to prevent infections and help your appliance fit well for as long as possible.
The right type of denture for you ultimately depends on how many teeth you’re missing. While a partial denture can replace one or a few teeth throughout the mouth, a full denture can restore a whole arch. If you’re looking for an appliance that offers a superior hold and maximum chewing power, implant dentures may be the appropriate solution. Since dentures are often more affordable than other tooth replacement methods, they may be an excellent choice for a patient on a budget.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
While dentures can be an amazing way to replace lost teeth, some patients may be better suited by other tooth-replacement methods such as:
Dental bridges: These appliances consist of one or a few artificial teeth strung between two dental crowns, and they can replace a single tooth or several sequential missing teeth. However, placing a bridge requires the alteration of the healthy teeth on either side of the gap so they can support its dental crowns.
Dental implants: These prosthetic appliances are considered the ideal form of tooth replacement because they look and feel like real teeth and can last for thirty years or a lifetime with excellent care. To receive a dental implant, a patient will need to have enough jawbone mass to host the titanium post that anchors it in place.
Types of Dentures
There are several types of dentures, and the one that you should use comes down to the particulars of your situation. We’ll give you a detailed recommendation when we meet, but here’s what you should know beforehand.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are ideal for those patients who are missing most, but not all, of their teeth on a gum ridge. They consist of false teeth on a metal base, and include small clips that allow them to attach to the natural teeth for support.
Full Dentures
Full dentures, on the other hand, are meant for patients who are missing all of their teeth. They have nothing to attach to with clasps, which means that they are meticulously designed to adhere to the gums entirely via suction.
Full dentures consist of an acrylic base with either acrylic or porcelain teeth attached to it.
Implant Dentures
Implant dentures are an excellent option for patients who want the coverage of dentures but would like a little bit more stability. This can be done by attaching a full or partial denture to a series of metal posts surgically inserted into the jaw.
Implant dentures provide patients with not only greater bite strength, but superior durability as well. This means that if you go this route, you’re likely to save a lot of money on relines and replacements in the long run.
The Benefits of Dentures
One of the main things that dentures have going for them is the fact that they can be completely customized to you. We do everything that we can to make sure that your prosthetic not only fits well, but that the teeth look incredibly natural in your mouth.
These dentures will allow you to eat a much more nutritious diet than you could otherwise, meaning that they’ll allow you to live a much healthier lifestyle. And their ease of maintenance means that you won’t have to take time from things that matter to keep your prosthetic in good condition.
If you have any questions about what dentures can do for you, reach out to us for a consultation today!