Missing teeth can take a serious toll on your quality of life by compromising your appearance and making eating and speaking a challenge.

Dentures can replace several missing teeth or an entire dental arch, restoring the function and appearance of your smile.

So why should you choose dentures?

- Take Years off Your Appearance

Designed to look like natural teeth, dentures can be customized to complement the shape of your face and improve the appearance of sunken cheeks and puckered lips.

- Enhance Your Quality of Life

Dentures can renew your ability to eat comfortably, enunciate clearly, and chew properly. With a fully functional smile, you can enjoy life more completely.

- Benefit from the Stability of Implants

You can elect to secure your dentures with dental implants. This solution keeps your dentures firmly in place and prevents the jawbone recession that occurs after tooth loss.

*According to the Association of State and Territorial Dental Directors.

- Bone Density

For an implant-supported restoration, you must have enough jawbone tissue to support dental implants. A bone graft can restore lost tissue if you have experienced jawbone recession. Even for a traditional restoration, your doctor may recommend pre-prosthetic surgery to prevent issues and make your restoration fit more comfortably.

- Gum Disease

While early stages of gum disease can be easily treated, the condition can reach a point at which the solution may require tooth extraction. Once the teeth are removed, your gums can heal and a denture can replace the extracted teeth. You must be free of gum disease and tooth decay prior to receiving dentures.

- Feelings of Self-Consciousness

If an incomplete smile is making you feel self-conscious, you should speak to your dentist about dentures. A restoration can improve both the appearance and function of your smile and allow you to feel more confident.

Many dentists now use advanced tools to take digital impressions of your smile. These systems eliminate the need for messy, uncomfortable impressions taken using putty and allow your dentist to customize your denture with greater precision. Some offices even have in-house milling systems which can fabricate your restoration on-site, making treatment more convenient.

Your new restoration may feel odd for a few weeks while your cheeks and tongue adapt. You may also experience increased saliva flow, which should diminish as you adjust. With a traditional denture, you may notice some minor irritation or soreness.

You should eat soft foods cut into small pieces so you can get used to the new dentures. Be cautious with hard or hot foods, which could damage your dentures. You may need to practice common functions, such as speaking, with your dentures for a few weeks until you become comfortable with your appliance.

Replacing decayed, damaged, or missing teeth with dentures can create a dramatic change in your appearance. In addition, dentures can provide support for your facial tissues, which can give your features a healthier and more youthful look.

Don't let tooth loss ruin your smile. Dentures can replace missing teeth and last for five years or more with proper care. Schedule an exam today to find out how you can live better with dentures.