If you’re one of the millions of people who need dentures every year, you may be worried about how your dentures will feel and “work” — and maybe most importantly, how they’ll look to others. But guess what? Today’s dentures are a far cry from the clunky false teeth your grandparents or parents may have worn. Here are just a few ways dentures have changed for the better.
They’re more lightweight
Dentures are only as good as the technology and materials that are available, and when your grandparents (or parents) got their dentures, those choices were very limited. Today, there are lightweight plastics that are strong and durable. The dentures that rely on today’s state-of-the-art materials are much lighter than those old-fashioned models, and that means they’re much more comfortable to wear.
They look and feel more natural
Weight isn’t the only thing that’s improved over the years. Those “space-age” resins can also be custom tinted and shaped so they look much more natural than old-fashioned dentures that often wound up looking bulky, oversized and too “squared off” — in other words, unnatural. Your dentures can be completely customized for you, so they look just like your natural teeth — only healthier and more attractive.
They’re far more secure
Old dentures used plastics that were super rigid and heavy, making it difficult to achieve a true custom fit. But today’s dentures use special fitting technology to capture all the contours of your gums and teeth so the end result fits securely and comfortably, snugly hugging your gums. Not only does a more secure fit feel more comfortable and more natural, but it also helps you avoid embarrassing slipping and painful sore spots on your gums and palate.
They’re easier to adjust
Even though your dentures fit well when you first get them, changes in your gum contours can make them loose and uncomfortable over time. Thanks to advanced materials, today’s dentures can be easily relined to adjust their contours so they fit more securely and more comfortably. At Houston Precise Dental Care, we offer hard and soft relines so dentures fit better and don’t cause sore spots. Plus, we offer rebase services to replace the entire acrylic “gum” portion of the denture while retaining the teeth. Rebasing can be a great alternative to replacing the entire denture, and since the denture teeth are retained, you’ll look the same once the rebasing is complete.
They can be attached to implants
Implant-retained dentures are a relatively new option, and they’re truly changing the way people think about their dentures. Unlike traditional dentures that rest on your gums, implant-retained dentures are secured using special clips and posts that are implanted into your bone. Sometimes called “all-on-four” or “all-on-six” dentures (depending on the number of implants used), implant-retained dentures can still be removed when needed. But when you put them back in your mouth, they “snap” or secure to the implant posts, which means they will stay put until you decide to remove them. Some dentures can be attached to implants using screws. These dentures are often called “permanent dentures” because they stay in place. You don’t remove them, even for cleaning. Even though they’re screwed in place, the dentures don’t touch the gums, so you can still clean around them easily.
Learn more about today’s state-of-the-art dentures
Whether you’re missing one, several, or all your teeth, dentures can quite literally change the way you feel about yourself. Not only can good dentures make it lots easier to eat the foods you love, but they can also help you feel more attractive and much more confident in any type of social situation. At Houston Precise Dental Care, Dr. Joe Eckford helps men and women get the dentures they need to help them lead more confident, healthier lives. To learn more about the denture options available at Houston Precise Dental Care, including immediate dentures and implant-retained dentures, book an appointment online today.