Dr. Sal Lotardo and the dental team in Bella Smiles at Nesconset offer many types of dentures to patients with missing teeth. If you suffer from lost or damaged teeth, we can custom design a denture that will fit comfortably and look natural allowing you to smile confidently again. Dr. Sal Lotardo also offers routine dental services for patients of all ages in Long Island, NY.
Dentures in Bella Smiles at Nesconset
Dentures are prosthetic teeth that we use to replace teeth when a person has lost their own teeth. They are custom-made to fit comfortably inside the patient’s mouth and look completely natural.
Full dentures can replace a whole row of missing teeth. A full denture is a removable dental prosthesis. It consists of fake teeth that a fabricator fuses to an acrylic base that mimics the color of gum tissue. Suctioning to the gums or an adhesive can securely hold this base in your mouth.
Dentists use partial dentures when there are still some remaining healthy natural teeth. The patient may just need to fill in the gaps from a few missing teeth. Partial dentures are also removable. They will remain in place with metal claps that will fit snuggly around the remaining teeth in the arch. Your dentist may use this restoration instead of a dental bridge.
About Traditional Dentures
Choosing dentures to replace your teeth will require an adjustment period. A full denture is quite bulky and will feel uncomfortable at first. Sometimes it takes patients months to get used to one being inside their mouth. Dentures are also known to cause issues such as moving or slipping around in the mouth. This can lead to issues with speaking and eating. If they do not fit correctly, they may even fall out.
They also require daily care and maintenance. Denture wearers will most likely experience some bone loss over the years. This will make them fit differently and your dentist will need to adjust or replace them. Daily care includes rinsing them after eating, brushing them at least once a day, and soaking them overnight.
Implant-secured Dentures
Denture implants are the best and most aesthetic option available today for the replacement of multiple missing teeth. Dentures can now be secured with dental implants making them more stable and very strong. This is the only permanent solution available today for patients missing an entire row of teeth. An oral surgeon will surgically implant two to eight titanium posts in the jaw bone to hold the restoration in place.
It is important to know that the denture implant process involves more time and money compared to a traditional denture. While the latter will take under a month, it can take up to a year to have the dental implants placed and the denture attached.
However, teeth implants have little to no eating restrictions. They will never slip around in the mouth which leads to slurred speech or embarrassing situations. The implants will also replace the tooth root which will reduce the chance of bone loss.
Schedule a Dental Exam Today
To learn more about dentures and the type that will best suit you, schedule an appointment with Dr. Lotardo at our Nesconset, NY dental office today.