Missing Teeth Replacement Options in Johnson City TN

About Dentures:

Dentures are appliances that are inserted in the mouth, replacing natural teeth and providing support for the cheeks and lips.  Dentures are designed to help improve the look of your smile along with increasing your ability to eat comfortably and maintain proper nutrition.

What are dentures made of?

Most dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated one of two ways:

• A conventional complete denture is fabricated after all teeth are extracted and gum tissues have healed.
• An immediate denture is fabricated before all teeth are extracted and placed “immediately” after teeth are removed allowing gum tissues to heal under the denture and providing for immediate replacement of missing teeth.

Complete dentures replace an entire arch of teeth, such as all upper teeth or all lower teeth.  They are fabricated by a dental laboratory and consist of an acrylic life-like, gum-colored base covering the ridge that formally retained the teeth.  Prosthetic teeth made of acrylic or porcelain are artfully placed considering both aesthetics and function.

Dentures are held in place primarily by a “suctioning effect” against the boney ridges that support them.  They can also be fabricated to fit over endodontically treated teeth or can be attached to dental implants allowing for a more stable and secure fit.

Maintenance for Dentures

Dentures over a normal course of time will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to maintain proper fit and jaw alignment.  It is normal for there to be some tissue shrinkage and bone loss over time with all denture patients.   Regular dental examinations by Dr. Clanton and his team are important so that oral tissues can be evaluated along with stability and fit of the denture.