Dentures – Lutz, FL

Effects of Missing Teeth

Whether you recently lost a few teeth or you haven’t had any of your natural teeth for years, we strongly recommend coming to our office to explore your tooth-replacement options. Otherwise, you’ll be left dealing with the effects of missing teeth, like:

• Low self-esteem – Oftentimes, patients with noticeable gaps between their teeth feel like attention is being drawn to their smiles for all the wrong reasons.
• Limited diet – Unfortunately, many patients struggling with tooth loss have to resort to eating only extremely soft foods, like plain yogurt, mashed potatoes, and oatmeal.
• Trouble enunciating clearly – Another downside of tooth loss is that it can take a toll on your speaking patterns, making it difficult to communicate clearly with the people around you.
• Dental drift – The longer you wait to address tooth loss, the more likely it is that the teeth surrounding the gap will drift, negatively impacting your bite in the process.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

Dentures are a great option for patients who are struggling with moderate to severe tooth loss. That said, you must meet one important requirement: your mouth must be healthy. In other words, you can’t have gum disease, cavities, or any other oral health issues. If you don’t initially qualify for this reason, don’t worry – these impediments can be treated. As soon as the problem is fixed, we can then refocus on completing your smile with dentures.

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

Of course, dentures aren’t the only tooth-replacement solution available. At our Lutz dental office, we also offer:

• Dental bridges – Secured in place with two dental crowns, dental bridges can replace between one and four missing teeth in a row. Since the size, shape, and shade of the crowns and the replacement teeth are custom-made, you can have peace of mind knowing your restoration will look and feel completely natural.
• Dental implants – Unlike dentures, dental implants can replace an entire arch of teeth as well as a single missing tooth. Not only that, but they can replace both the root and crown, and they can last for 30 years or longer with the proper care and maintenance.

If you are ready to take the next step toward a complete, healthy, and confident smile, let us know! We’d love to learn a little more about you, your dental needs, and your smile goals so we can determine which solution is best for you.

What Are Dentures Made Of?

A denture consists of a base that serves as the foundation and the artificial teeth it supports. Here’s a brief look at these parts and how they are constructed:

• The base of a denture is usually made from nylon, porcelain, resin, or metal, but full dentures are usually made from acrylic since it is especially easy to color to match the patient’s natural gum tissue. A partial denture may have an acrylic base with metal clips that hold on to the patient’s natural teeth.
• The artificial teeth of a denture are usually made from porcelain or resin since they mimic the appearance of natural teeth. While porcelain offers superior durability and most closely resembles natural enamel in appearance, it is usually only used for full dentures since it can be harsh on any remaining teeth.

The Denture Creation Process

Each denture is customized through the following process:

• Step One: Tehrani takes impressions of her patient’s teeth to create a plaster model of their mouth called a cast.
• Step Two: This cast is sent to a trusted dental lab where a skilled technician uses it to craft a wax replica of the gumline.
• Step Three: The technician sets the artificial teeth in place using a machine called an articulator and adjusts the denture appropriately.
• Step Four: The wax dentures are sent back to our office so you can try them on. If they’re approved, we’ll send them back so the technician can finalize them.
• Step Five: At the lab, the technician will place the wax dentures in a flask and pour plaster over them. Then, the flask will be boiled to eliminate the wax, leaving a negative mold that will be used to create your final denture.
• Step Six: The technician makes holes in the bases of the teeth so they can bond with the final denture. Then, they will inject acrylic into the flask.
• Step Seven: The technician carefully removes the plaster to reveal the final denture and places this appliance in an ultrasonic bath to eliminate any lingering debris.
• Step Eight: After any excess acrylic is trimmed from the denture, the device will be polished until it shines.
• Step Nine: The patient returns to our office so they can try their new denture on. After we make any final adjustments, they’ll be ready to show off their new smile.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

While you can expect some discomfort when adjusting to your new dentures, this will fade as you get used to wearing them. You may have difficulty speaking and eating at first, but your appliance should feel very similar to natural teeth after you get more practice using it. You can make this adjustment process smoother by:

• Sticking to a soft, mild diet until you can enjoy spicier and tougher fare comfortably.
• Exercising your facial muscles or reading a favorite book out loud and repeating difficult words.
• Experimenting with adhesive products.

However, contact our office if your discomfort persists after several weeks so we can adjust your dentures appropriately.