Dentures – Chevy Chase, MD
Restore The Appearance and Function of Your Smile
When you are missing multiple teeth, it doesn’t just affect your smile. Lost teeth can make it difficult to eat, speak, and interact with the world confidently. Without the ability to chew food thoroughly, your body is unable to get the nutrients it needs to keep you strong and healthy, and without your teeth in the correct places your speech may become impaired or slurred. Dentures can replace those missing teeth, bringing back your beautiful smile and allowing you to eat a healthier, more nutritious diet. Having a full set of teeth can also boost your self-esteem and make it easier for you to communicate with friends, family, and colleagues.
Why Choose Avant Dentistry for Dentures?
- Durable, Natural-Looking Prosthetics
- We Welcome Dental Insurance & Flexible Financing Available
- Highly Experienced Dentist
Who Is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Missing teeth can truly change the course of your life. When you can no longer enjoy the foods you love, can’t communicate your needs clearly, or feel too ashamed to smile or laugh with friends and family, it can take its toll on your physical and mental health. Dentures can solve many of these problems by replacing lost teeth, enabling you to once again enjoy a broad range of foods, speak clearly, and boost your self-esteem so you feel confident interacting with the world.
If you aren’t missing all your natural teeth along an arch, you may be better suited to other treatments. Furthermore, you must have healthy gums to support your new dentures. If you do not, Dr. Yu will be happy to work with you to get them in better shape for treatment.
Types of Dentures
To best determine which type of denture is ideal for your smile, you’ll first need to schedule a consultation at Avant Dentistry. At this appointment, Dr. Yu will review your oral and overall health and make recommendations for the type of prosthetic that will suit your needs. She will also take impressions and images for the dental lab, or if you need any preliminary treatment such as extractions or gum disease therapy, we can schedule your treatment for those first.
Partial Dentures
Having large gaps between your teeth can cause myriad problems for your mouth. In addition to making it harder to chew and enunciate your words, it can also cause jawbone deterioration and tooth drift, which can eventually lead to the loss of more teeth.
Partial dentures can help solve many of these problems. They are typically made of acrylic “gums” and crowns that are durable and lifelike and won’t damage nearby teeth. Typically, they secure in place with metal clips or clasps and are removable for cleaning and soaking overnight.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are ideal for patients who are missing all the teeth on an arch. They secure in place using natural suction, so you can use them to smile, speak, and eat confidently. The base of your full dentures is custom crafted to fit the precise measurements of your individual mouth, so they not only look like your real smile, but they feel like real teeth and gums, too.
Implant Dentures
Implant dentures are just as natural looking as full dentures, but they secure in place permanently with four to six dental implants that are attached to your jaw. To receive this treatment, you will need sufficient jawbone density. Implant dentures are ideal for anyone who isn’t happy with traditional dentures, and who doesn’t want to deal with removing them for cleaning and soaking. Furthermore, because they’re attached to your jaw, implant dentures won’t slip or cause painful denture sores like traditional dentures sometimes do, and since they’re designed for the long-term, they won’t need to be replaced every five to seven years like removable dentures, saving you both time and money.
The Benefits of Dentures
Dentures are a highly customized treatment that requires several weeks or months to complete, but they’re well worth the wait. These versatile prosthetics are made to look just like your natural teeth and gums, so nobody needs to know they’re not “real.” Furthermore, they allow you to eat a more nutritious diet, potentially improving your overall health. They can also make you look younger by preventing that hollow look in the cheeks that sometimes occurs with tooth loss. Dentures are also easy to clean and maintain, and they are often the most cost-effective solution when it comes to tooth replacement.