Dentures in Yarmouth ME

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Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Essentially, anyone who has lost teeth can consider dentures to refill their grin. Before Dr. Nguyen can confirm that you’re a candidate for dentures, he’ll need to have a consultation appointment with you and perform an oral examination. During your visit, he’ll inspect your teeth and gums to ensure there are no areas of tooth decay or gum disease. He’ll also gather information about your medical history and dental needs and build an appropriate treatment plan to meet them.

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Types of Dentures

No two mouths are exactly alike, so there are a few different types of dentures that can restore the functionality and appearance of your smile based on your unique circumstances. Once you’ve had your consultation. Dr. Nguyen will provide his recommendations and answer your questions about the pros and cons of each. Our practice is thrilled to offer these types of dentures:

Partial Dentures

• Partial dentures are used for those who still have natural teeth remaining and don’t need a full set of prosthetics. They consist of a gum-colored acrylic base and the required number of pontics (false teeth) to fill in the gap. They’re usually held in place with metal clasps that anchor to your surrounding teeth. These are not permanent fixtures and can be removed and reinserted for upkeep.

Full Dentures

• Full dentures are the tried-and-true method for restoring an entire mouth full of missing teeth. They’re made from a gum-colored acrylic base that suctions to your gums to hold them in place. Sometimes, though, additional denture adhesive is needed for additional stability. They can be easily taken out for cleaning and maintenance.

Implant Dentures

• Implant dentures are a cross-over between dentures and dental implants. You’ll first have titanium posts surgically inserted into your jawbone. Over a few months, your bone fuses with them through a process known as osseointegration. Then, your dentures will be attached to them for maximum stability. These typically can only be removed by your dentist during checkup appointments.

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The Benefits of Dentures

Some benefits of getting dentures at Forest Falls Dental include:

• Customizable, life-like materials to enhance your smile’s appearance.
• A restored chewing capacity that lets you enjoy your favorite foods.
• The ability to converse and chat with ease.
• Convenient cleaning. It’s easy to remove your dentures to rinse or brush them.
• Durable solution that can last 7+ years with the right care.
• Call us today and you’ll be on your way to regaining your beautiful smile!

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How Will My Mouth Feel With Dentures in Yarmouth ME

As with anything we use on a regular basis such as spectacles or braces, there will be an adjustment period with dentures where they will feel strange and foreign. You may feel like you have a “full mouth.” There may be a hyperawareness of your lips being pushed forward; you may even feel like your teeth are too big and taking up too much space in your mouth. Your mouth, sensing that there is something inside, will likely mistake this to mean there is food present, and you may salivate more at first.

These feelings will eventually subside after about 14 days as your mouth adjusts to the new dentures. During this initial adjustment period, you may be advised to wear the dentures all the time, only taking them out for cleaning. Once the adjustment period is over, your dentist will consult with you on an appropriate time to remove your dentures for long periods of time to give your gums a rest. Normally this would be at night when it’s time to sleep.

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Will Dentures Affect My Speech

If you’ve ever had the experience of wearing braces, then you know there was also an adjustment period where your speech patterns were affected. So, the answer here is “yes, at first.” The most likely phonetics to be affected at first will be “S,” “Sh,” “Th” and “Ch” sounds. This is because your tongue is now in a slightly different position from what you are used to. There may also be a new whistling or hissing sound that accompanies your speech.

Regular speaking will eventually retrain you to regain proper pronunciation of words. However, if you’d like to speed up this process, then either read out loud to yourself for a few days or be aggressive about a conversation in the initial days after you receive your dentures. You will eventually adjust to the differences, compensate, and speak normally.

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How Will Dentures Affect Eating

In most cases, dentures will ultimately not affect your eating habits, but some retraining will be required. Some people adjust to eating with dentures after a few weeks. Others may take up to six months to feel comfortable. However, any food that requires hard biting down with the front teeth, such as corn on the cob, or an apple may always present some challenges.

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As with any new addition to your daily living habits, practice will eventually lead to comfort and mastery of your new dentures. But if you have any specific questions or concerns about their use and care, you should always refer them to your dentist and get some reliable, professional advice. Contact our team at Forest Falls Dental today for more information.