Have you thought about getting dentures? Our dentists at Heritage Hill Dental are here to service you if you are in need of a full set of dentures or partial dentures. Let our dentists in Grand Rapids determine if dentures are right for you.  If so, you can be sure that you will receive the best dental service possible.  Our team of dental professionals will ensure that your new Dentures or Partial Dentures will provide you with the proper fit and the beautiful smile you deserve.  Read below for more information about Dentures and Partial Dentures.

Full dentures or also known as complete dentures and are a total replacement of all of your upper or lower teeth with a removable set of teeth.  Dentures are usually prescribed by dentists when decay or tooth damage becomes so severe that saving existing teeth has become too difficult.

Dentures may be considered immediate or conventional depending on when the denture is actually made.  Immediate dentures are usually made before any remaining teeth are extracted and are available for use as soon as the extractions occur.  Immediate dentures usually take a series of adjustments to achieve the correct fit as the gum and jaw line usually shrink while the area where the extractions took place heals.  The alternate to immediate dentures is conventional dentures.  In the case of conventional dentures, the patient will normally wait a period of 8 to 12 weeks after extractions are completed to be fit for a set of dentures.  This waiting period will give the patient’s gums and jaw a chance to heal and settle into its final shape.  This allows the dentist the ability to create a wonderful fit while only having to make minor adjustments from that point on.  In many cases, a patient will be fitted with an immediate denture during this waiting period to avoid having to go without teeth.

Partial Dentures become necessary if permanent teeth remain intact, but missing teeth need to be replaced. It is possible to fill in the void of one or more missing teeth with a removable partial denture or bridge.  A partial denture is made of a gum colored plastic base with the replacement teeth attached.  This base is then attached to a metal frame which holds the partial in your mouth.  A permanent partial denture or bridge is installed by taking the two outermost permanent teeth and placing crowns on those teeth.  Then the permanent partial denture or bridge is cemented in place creating a “bridge” between the two permanent teeth.
In any case, permanent, temporary, complete, or partial, dentures usually take time getting used to.  The Dentist will usually administer a series of adjustments in order for the new device to fit properly.  It is common for the patient to experience temporary speech changes while they are getting used to their new teeth.  This will usually go away within the first couple of weeks after the dentures are installed.

Dentures DO NOT last a lifetime. In fact, the only useful duration of any set of false teeth is only 7 years. After that, you'll have to go visit your dentist again and get X-rays for any change in the anatomy of your bite, not to mention the "extra spacing" gums have formed while wearing dentures. You will also have to visit the dentist every 2 years to fill spaces caused by the recession of the alveolar bone, or else your facial structure will continue to deform, making your face appear smaller, and your teeth bigger.  If you fear any of this happening to you, there are also a cost-efficient alternative called dental implants.

If you would like a denture consultation at our convenient downtown Grand Rapids office or have additional questions regarding dentures, call us today to set an appointment.