Dentures – Lakeway, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

Tooth loss can be caused by multiple different factors. The most common include tooth decay, gum disease, and injury. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, missing teeth results in a wide array of consequences. Tooth loss can lead to facial sagging, difficulty speaking clearly, difficulty chewing, and low self-confidence. Fortunately, dentures are able to improve all of these aspects of your life and more!

What Qualifies You for Dentures

The majority of adults are able to get dentures without too much of a problem. They are ideal for those who are missing several, most of, or all of their teeth. People who wear dentures must maintain healthy gum tissue and have sufficient jawbone. After missing teeth for a long time, the jawbone is reabsorbed by the body, therefore resulting in bone loss. If you currently have any dental issues, like gum disease or tooth decay, these things need to be addressed and eliminated before you can move forward in the process of getting dentures.

Alternative Tooth Replacement Options

If you are not a candidate for dentures or they don’t sound appealing to you, there may be another tooth replacement option that will better complete your smile. Here are the other ones that we offer:

• Dental Bridges: A dental bridge works by “bridging” the gap in your smile where your tooth is missing. Bridges are great for people who are only missing a single tooth or a couple of consecutive teeth. A dental bridge requires that the patient has healthy adjacent teeth surrounding the empty space to support it.
• Dental Implants: A dental implant is a titanium, screw-like post that is surgically inserted in the jawbone. In order to get dental implants, patients need to have a sufficient jawbone structure and be able to undergo a minor surgical procedure. Dental implants have a higher upfront cost, but they last for many decades or even the rest of your life!

Learn More About Dental Bridges

Learn More About Dental Implants

What are Dentures Made Of?

Dentures consist of two different parts; the base that touches your gums and the teeth (or pontics). Below is a description of each:

• Denture base: This is the foundational portion that gives your artificial teeth the support they need to retain their shape. They can be made from a variety of durable materials like acrylic, nylon, porcelain, resin, or metal. Usually, full dentures have an acrylic base that’s customized to match your natural gum tissue. Partial dentures often include metal clips in their acrylic base to anchor to neighboring teeth. Depending on your provider, nylon may be used instead of acrylic.
• Pontics: These are typically made from composite resin or porcelain because they can both be color-matched to any remaining teeth. Porcelain tends to be used more frequently because the durable ceramic provides a natural look and feel. If you’re getting partial dentures, however, porcelain may not be the optimal choice because it can be abrasive on adjacent teeth.

The Denture Creation Process

Dentures are fully tailored to fit your grin precisely, so it generally takes more than one appointment to complete. The entire process from start to finish normally includes:

• Step 1: Pedersen will take impressions of your upper and lower gums and bite alignment. Traditionally, this was done using a thick paste that patients would bite into to create a negative mold. Now, advanced technology like CAD/CAM Systems allows our team to make virtual impressions to enhance patient comfort as well as the accuracy of the results.
• Step 2: The impressions are sent to a dental laboratory to begin building them. First, they create a wax version of your gum line to establish a foundation.
• Step 3: Next, the artificial teeth are placed. A mechanical device, called an articulator, is used to attach these to the wax base. Then, a technician will shape and carve the wax to replicate the images of your gums. This will be used later for your finished restoration.
• Step 4: This wax version is sent to Dr. Pederson so he can schedule an appointment for you to try them out. He’ll note whether any changes need to be made, and then return them to the lab.
• Step 5: A technician will place the dentures in a flask which is placed in boiling water to melt the wax away.
• Step 6: Holes are made in the artificial teeth and a liquid separator is added to the plaster layer to stop the acrylic from sticking to it. Then, acrylic is injected into the flask to replace the wax.
• Step 7: The plaster is carefully removed using special instruments to reveal the acrylic denture beneath. This is then placed in an ultrasonic bath to remove any leftover plaster.
• Step 8: Any excess acrylic will be trimmed away and then the dentures will be polished.
• Step 9: This will be returned to Dr. Pedersen so he can schedule you for a final fitting. If any additional changes need to be made, that will be noted, and they’ll be returned to the lab to be corrected. Otherwise, you can finally take them home!

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

Once you have a beautifully refurbished smile, it may take some getting used to. It’s normal to experience some mild soreness and have challenges eating and speaking for the first month of wearing your new dentures. In time, you’ll learn how to use the muscles in your mouth to hold them in place when chewing or forming words. If you need a little help, denture adhesive can create a day-long bond that helps hold them in place. Soon, you’ll find that you’ve grown accustomed to wearing them and might even forget they’re there!