Affordable Dentures at Smile Symphony, Your Affordable Lithia Springs Dentist

Dentures are a great way to improve your smile. If you are considering getting dentures, read the paragraphs below. They will explain the various options to getting beautiful dentures made at Smile Symphony.

What are dentures anyway?

Dentures are replacement teeth custom-made for you. They fulfill two important functions:

• They restore the functionality of your mouth. That means you can eat, smile, and speak better than you could without them.
• They restore or improve the appearance of your face, and also your smile.

What materials are used for dentures?

Dentures consist of a denture base and the artificial teeth. The base is normally made of a gum colored plastic called acrylic, which matches your gums in color and function. The teeth are normally made of porcelain or other suitable materials (such as acrylic), so that they have the function and form of normal teeth in giving you a proper bite.

Types of dentures

Here at Smile Symphony, we fabricate affordable dentures, both complete dentures and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing. Partial dentures are for when only some teeth are missing.

Partial dentures

Partial dentures are used when there are some healthy teeth left in the jaw. The denture is then made around those good teeth and gets support from them. Several types can be made depending on the strength, cost preferences, and flexibility desired by the customer. The denture base can be made of acrylic, or cast metals like cobalt or chromium. Its color is made to match your gums.

Procedure for a Partial denture

• The dentist at Smile Symphony takes an impression of your upper and lower jaws to cast a models. These will help to design a well-fitting and strong partial denture.
• The Primary Impression: The dentist prepares some of your existing teeth to support the partial denture. Then they take the primary impression of your teeth. A special material is used for the first impression, so that your prepared teeth and all the anatomical structures are faithfully reproduced. This impression is used to create a special tray for the secondary impression.
• The Secondary Impression: With the help of the tray from the primary impression, an exact replica of the prepared teeth and the anatomical structures is prepared. This is the secondary impression. It determines the fitting and placement of the clasps for the denture.
• Wax Try-in: A wax denture is prepared by the lab for try-in. The dentist ensures that the clasps fit properly and the heights of teeth adapt properly to the arches of the patient. At this point a color is also chosen for the new teeth to match that of the adjacent existing teeth. In case a metal base is selected, a metal framework try-in has to precede the wax denture try-in.
• To test the fitting of the denture, the dentist will ask you to speak a few words. This helps them identify inadequacies in the denture. Once both the patient and dentist are satisfied, the lab will finalize the denture.
• The finished denture will be delivered along with necessary home-care instructions.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are made when the upper or lower jaw is totally devoid of teeth, or very few teeth are available that are not considered strong enough and must be removed before the dentures are made.

Procedure for the complete denture:

• Primary impression: The first impression is taken to obtain a full replica of the anatomical make-up of the jaw and to determine the denture borders.
• Secondary impression: If more information about the arch's anatomy is needed, a secondary impression may be taken. A special custom impression tray is used for this purpose.
• The denture base is received from the lab, and the height of the dentures are adjusted. Midline, canine, and smile lines are drawn for a good teeth placement. The dentist helps the patient choose a color for the new teeth.
• Placement of the teeth, their fit, teeth color, and patient’s comfort are observed with a try-in denture. If both the patient and dentist are fully satisfied, the lab is asked to fabricate the final denture.
• The dentist has the denture delivered to the patient.

Note: Smile Symphony can also provide implant-supported dentures. Support for the denture is provided by two or more carefully located implants. Although the procedure is lengthy and costs more, this choice gives you a very convenient, lifelong solution to your problem with good strength and stability.

Immediate Dentures

In some cases, teeth may have to be extracted before making a denture. As a result, the patient has to go without teeth while the denture is being made. To avoid inconvenience and social embarrassment to the patient, an immediate/temporary denture is made and provided the day of the extractions. The procedure for an immediate denture is similar to that for a full denture, but made much more quickly, and without a try-in. It is temporary, and may need to be relined or replaced due to gum shrinkage.

Frequently Asked Questions about Affordable Dentures at Smile Symphony

What is the expected life of dentures?

Dentures are normally expected to last around 5-10 years. Regular care, checkup, and maintenance can prolong their life.

Do I need to clean the dentures daily?

Absolutely! Fungi (such as candida, which causes oral thrush) and bacteria may breed on the plastic base of the dentures. You should scrub the dentures all around using a toothbrush and water, especially cleaning the gum side. Be very careful. The dentures will be damaged if they fall. Hold them firmly to prevent dropping and breaking it. It may be useful to hold them over a bowl of water, or a towel.

Can I use Toothpaste to brush my dentures?

Unfortunately, no! The reason is that tooth pastes have abrasives to clean your teeth. These abrasives can roughen the surfaces of your denture, which will permit them to hold plaque and bacteria. They may also become more liable to staining.

What is the best way to store my denture?

Do not let them remain dry. Keep them in the water, or preferably, in a denture-soaking solution.

How often do I need to visit the dentist?

A twice yearly visit is recommended for partial dentures, and once a year for total dentures. Partial dentures are more complex and need more frequent inspections. Total dentures can be cleaned at home, but expert attention once a year will help to avoid problems.

Will the dentures cause my gums to be sore?

In a few cases, soreness and inflammation can result from irritation of the gums by the dentures. If you find this happening, visit your dentist as soon as possible.

Can I eat with my dentures?

Yes, stick to soft food initially, and avoid sticky or hard foods.

Will I need a “glue” or fixative?

Adhesives can be used if required. If your dentures become loose they can be relined to adhere better.