Dentures – Denver, CO
Say Goodbye to Your Smile’s Empty Spaces
Do you always find yourself trying to hide your smile from others because of missing teeth? Are you fed up with being unable to enjoy your favorite chewy or crunchy foods? If so, then Dr. Shauna Soltani can rebuild your smile by crafting the perfect set of dentures in Denver, CO. People have been replacing their lost teeth with dentures for generations, and they’re only becoming more natural-looking and comfortable as dental technology evolves. If you’re ready to finally say goodbye to your smile’s empty spaces, then call our team at Paradise Dentistry & Orthodontics today to set up your consultation for dentures in University Park!
Why Choose Paradise Dentistry & Orthodontics for Dentures?
- Dentist with 17+ Years of Experience
- Relaxing, Spa-Like Dental Office Environment
- In-Network with Many Popular Dental Insurance Providers
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
If you’re missing several or all of your teeth on one or both arches, then there’s a good chance that you can benefit from dentures. Of course, the only definitive way to learn whether you’re a good candidate for dentures is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Soltani. As an experienced dentist in Denver, she can review the status of your oral health, determine whether dentures are the ideal solution for you, and if so, develop a specialized treatment plan to give you your smile back.
Effects of Missing Teeth
According to the American College of Prosthodontists, the most common reasons behind missing teeth are tooth decay, gum disease, and injuries. When you are missing teeth, you can experience a variety of negative side effects that will affect your daily life. This can include facial sagging, difficulty speaking, trouble eating, and lower self-confidence.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
For those who have experienced significant tooth loss, extreme tooth sensitivity, and/or lots of decay, but have sufficient, healthy gum tissue and jawbone, dentures are a great option. People who get dentures must also be committed to their dental hygiene routine and willing to properly care for their new smile.
The number of teeth that you are missing will ultimately determine which type of denture is right for you. Dentures tend to be more affordable than other tooth replacement options, making them an ideal solution for patients who are unable to invest a lot of money into their smile at this time.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If you aren’t a good candidate for dentures, you may be a good candidate for another tooth replacement option. Here are the ones that we offer:
- Dental Bridges: Dental bridges are ideal for patients who are only missing one or a few teeth. They require healthy teeth surrounding the missing tooth to support the bridge.
- Dental Implants: Since a titanium post is inserted into the jawbone, patients must have a solid bone structure. This option is more costly than traditional dentures, but it’s made to last numerous decades.
Types of Dentures
The term “dentures” is fairly broad; there are actually three different types of dentures. Depending on the extent of your tooth loss, Dr. Soltani will recommend one of the following:
Full Dentures
When most people picture dentures, they think of a full denture. This prosthetic replaces an entire arch of lost teeth with a pink acrylic base that sits on the gums, which stays in place through a natural suction force. Not only are the replacement teeth tailor-made to appear like your old ones, but the base of the denture is designed to fit comfortably over your gums.
Partial Dentures
Maybe you still have some teeth left, but there are several gaps along the arch. In that case, you might qualify for a partial denture. Consisting of multiple artificial teeth attached to a metal framework, a partial denture fits behind the remaining teeth with clasps or clips. Once in place, it seamlessly fills the gaps to create a stunningly beautiful and complete smile.
Implant Dentures
Are you frustrated with your current full or partial denture? Do you want replacement teeth that always stay in place and can last for decades to come? If so, we can secure your denture onto a small number of dental implants that are expertly positioned in your jaw. Implant dentures recreate the entire structure of the teeth and never slip out of place, making it much easier to chew foods, maintain your oral hygiene, and smile confidently.
The Benefits of Dentures
Once you’ve lost some or all of your teeth, many of your normal oral tasks can become significantly harder to perform, such as eating, speaking, and smiling. Fortunately, dentures offer the life-changing results necessary to improve your oral health as well as your overall well-being. If you’ve been struggling with the effects of tooth loss, then custom-made prosthetics can provide the second chance you deserve for a beautiful and functional bite. Keep reading to learn several benefits of dentures that you can make the most of!
Psychological Benefits
With noticeable gaps in your smile, it can be difficult to want to attend social events, as you may feel embarrassed about opening your mouth. This can lead to significantly reduced confidence, making you less likely to engage with others. However, by replacing missing teeth with dentures, you can complete the rest of your smile and feel much more confident about showing off your grin. They can even help lower anxieties you may have about your speech, chewing ability, appearance, and more.
Clearer Enunciation
Did you know that people can speak clearly by pressing their lips and tongues against their pearly whites? That’s why, if you don’t have many or all of your teeth, it can be quite challenging to enunciate your words and phrases properly. Thankfully, with dentures, you can renew your upper and lower arches of teeth, which will improve your speech dramatically. This can take a short adjustment period, but with practice, you can easily speak more naturally in no time!
Improves Nutrition
Some fruits and vegetables, while healthy and nutrient-rich, can be tough in texture. If you aren’t able to chew your food efficiently, you can end up encountering problems such as malnutrition and indigestion. By improving your chewing ability with dentures, you’ll be able to expand your dietary choices to include meals like fruits, veggies, dairy products, and lean proteins that were too difficult to eat properly before. This will also help provide you with minerals and nutrients necessary for promoting better oral and overall health.
Preserves Oral Health
Whenever you lose some or most of your teeth, the rest of your natural ones can begin to move out of place to fill in the gaps. Dentures will be able to help serve as placeholders, preventing any other remaining pearly whites from shifting around. Additionally, your prosthetics can help bear some of the pressure of chewing, reducing wear and tear on the rest of your teeth.
Expands Opportunities
Whether you’re meeting someone for an interview or going on a first date, your smile is one of the first things people will notice about you. Dentures can help boost your appearance as well as your social and professional opportunities. Not only will you feel more confident with your new smile, but others will see how you carry yourself and may perceive you as more outgoing and attractive.
Denture FAQs
As you may be aware, wearing dentures is a skill that takes a little bit of time to perfect. While you’re certain to look and feel much better, it may be a little bit awkward at first.
When we fit patients for dentures, it’s common for them to have plenty of questions about what it will take to get used to them, what they’ll be capable of, and importantly, what they’ll look like. We make it a habit to answer any and all questions that you may have before beginning the treatment—here are some examples of ones we get often.
Will It Hurt to Get Dentures?
As you’d expect, having teeth extracted before your dentures will likely be the most uncomfortable part of the whole affair; while the procedure itself will be completely painless thanks to local anesthetics, you’re likely to be a little bit sore for a few days after.
The hard part will be over at this point, but you may experience a few sores and some tenderness after first getting your dentures. This should also fade after a few days and can be managed with over-the-counter medication.
Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?
Talking with dentures isn’t necessarily hard, but it is a unique skill that takes some time to master. It’s common for people to say that they have a little bit of a lisp when they first get their prosthetic, or that they have trouble keeping their dentures in their mouth when they speak.
Each of these things will get better with practice. You may need to set aside time to read aloud, taking note of any words that give you particular trouble.
What Can’t You Eat with Dentures?
Dentures can allow you to eat all kinds of foods that would normally be problematic if you were still missing teeth. However, there are some that can pose serious issues for your prosthetic and should probably be avoided.
Sticky, gummy foods can very easily pull your dentures out of place and can get stuck underneath your prosthetic. The same goes for popcorn kernels and nuts, though they have the added hazard of being ground into shards that can irritate the gums.
Then there are things like apples, carrots, corn on the cob, and other hard foods that may be acceptable to eat in moderation but can put a lot of stress on your new teeth.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
Dentures reduce circulation in the gums, which means that it’s generally a good idea to take them off while you’re sleeping. This gives your mouth an opportunity to air out, which is ultimately good for gum health.
Another issue is bacterial buildup, which can easily become an issue if you never take your dentures out. By soaking your prosthetic in cleaning solution each night, you can keep it and your mouth as fresh as possible.
