Dr. Welinsky emphasizes the many benefits of replacing missing teeth and offers a wide range of options for patients, including dentures, partial dentures, and dentures secured by dental implants. Patients today enjoy a wide range of treatment possibilities when replacing a missing tooth or teeth. You can benefit from dentures in our Towson, MD, dental office if you have multiple missing teeth or all your teeth missing.
Dr. Welinsky from our Towson, MD office will discuss all appropriate options after a thorough dental exam and discussion of your personal concerns, goals, and budget. We provide dentures and additional restorative dental treatments in Towson, Maryland.
Dr. Welinsky can create a custom cosmetic denture that will blend with your appearance and fit comfortably to enable normal speech and a healthy diet while restoring your smile with your original natural look.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
Even a single missing tooth can lead to a wide range of complex dental problems down the road which will sooner or later, affect your quality of life. The look and function of your smile depend upon your teeth, gums, and the jaw bone.
If you don’t replace a missing tooth, the remaining teeth will begin to shift and change the bite. A missing tooth can also increase the risk of developing gum disease and lead to bone loss and shrinkage in the jaw. These issues lead to poor oral health and will affect both speech and diet. Missing teeth can make it difficult for you to pronounce certain words and eat the foods you love.
We recommend restorative dentistry treatments to replace your missing teeth. If you have many missing teeth, we will recommend dentures in our Towson, MD office.
Types of Dentures
You have many types of denture restorations to choose from, whether you have multiple missing teeth or all your teeth missing:
Partials
If you don’t have all your teeth missing, we will recommend partial dentures. Partials can be removable or supported by implants.
Removable partials have replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored plastic base that matches your mouth. Metal or plastic clasps gently clip onto your natural teeth to hold the partial securely in place. You can take them out for cleaning at night, just like full dentures.
Implant-supported partials don’t need clasps because they attach directly to small metal posts surgically placed in your jawbone. They feel more like natural teeth and won’t slip when you eat or talk.
Immediate Dentures
These are temporary dentures you receive right after tooth extraction. While your gums heal and shrink (which takes several months), immediate dentures allow you to have teeth during the healing process. Later, you’ll need permanent dentures that fit your healed gums properly.
Overdentures
These special dentures fit over any remaining natural teeth you have or dental implants. Your existing teeth or implants help hold the denture securely in place to make them more stable than regular dentures. This option often provides better chewing power and comfort.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Considered the most secure option, these dentures attach directly to dental implants surgically placed in your jawbone. Unlike regular dentures that might slip, implant dentures stay firmly in place. They help preserve jawbone and feel more like natural teeth.
Am I a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Dentures might be a good solution if you’re missing several teeth or all of your teeth and want to restore your smile and chewing ability. You may be a good candidate if you:
- Have trouble eating certain foods
- Feel self-conscious about your teeth
- Notice remaining teeth shifting due to gaps
Your gums and jawbone need to be healthy enough to support dentures. If you’ve had gum disease, it should be treated first. For partial dentures, your remaining teeth should be strong enough to help hold the denture in place. People with very little jawbone might need implants to help secure their dentures.
Dentures work best for patients willing to adapt to wearing them and committed to proper cleaning. There’s an adjustment period where you’ll learn to speak and eat comfortably with them. If you grind your teeth at night, your dentist might suggest a special protective appliance.
The best way to know if you’re a candidate is to visit Dr. Welinsky. He’ll examine your mouth, discuss your needs, and explain all your tooth replacement options
Dentures and Partials: What to Expect
The process for placing a denture will vary depending on the type of denture being placed and whether dental implants are being used to secure the appliance. Dr. Welinsky will discuss what you can expect from your unique treatment plan.
If dental implants are being placed, this will be the initial phase of treatment and Dr. Welinsky will coordinate the surgical procedure with a local oral surgeon. After a healing period of several months, you will return to our office for the next steps in the placement of a new denture.
Dr. Welinsky will take dental impressions and a temporary denture is often placed so that you can get used to your new smile and the gum tissues can adapt to the fit of the appliance. In some cases, a new set of impressions will be taken after an adjustment period for the most stable and comfortable fit of your final restoration.
The final step is the placement of the new denture, which will either be secured to your dental implants or lined and held in place with an adhesive.
Dentures and Partials FAQs
Read answers to common questions about dentures in Towson, MD:
How many hours a day should I wear my dentures?
The answer depends on what kind of dentures you have. If you have implant-supported dentures that are permanently attached to dental implants, you’ll wear them all the time.
For regular removable dentures, you should take them out every night before bed. This gives your gums a chance to rest and prevents irritation from constant pressure. Removing them at night also lets your gums breathe and helps you clean your dentures properly.
Do dentures feel normal?
Dentures have a reputation for not feeling like normal teeth in your mouth. However, modern technology has significantly improved dentures. If you have implant-supported dentures, you get the full bite function of normal teeth. While you don’t get full bite function with removable dentures, they do start to feel normal in your mouth as you wear them more often.
Are dentures better than having bad teeth?
Yes, dentures come with a lot of benefits over bad teeth. You’re able to consume more foods and eat without pain. Dentures also help you have a smile that you’re proud to show off.
Schedule a Consultation
Do you need dentures in Towson, MD? We’re always looking for new patients to join our family practice. Contact us at 410-321-8480 or request an appointment online. We’ll contact you shortly.
Dr. Welinksy’s Baltimore, MD area dentist office is convenient for patients in Towson, West Towson, Parkville, and many suburbs in Baltimore, MD.