Dentures – New Braunfels, TX

Effects of Missing Teeth

Even more minor cases of tooth loss can lead to serious trouble – from low self-esteem and difficulty speaking clearly to struggling to chew and nutritional deficiencies. That’s why we don’t recommend taking the “wait and see” approach. Instead, schedule an appointment with us to explore your treatment options, even if you are only missing one tooth that no one can see. The sooner you visit us, the sooner we can address any existing oral health problems and fill the gaps in your smile.

What Qualifies You for Dentures?

In order to determine if dentures are right for you, we need to confirm that your gums are healthy, that any remaining teeth you have are healthy, and that your jawbone is dense enough to support your dentures. If you’re experiencing any complications, like gum disease, decay, or an infection, don’t worry – we can address them before going forward with your denture creation process. Otherwise, we will simply proceed with determining which type of denture is best for you!

Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options

In addition to providing you with further details on dentures at your consultation, we will discuss the other tooth-replacement solutions available. For example, if you are missing several teeth in a row, we may recommend a dental bridge to seamlessly fill in the open space in your smile. If you are missing an entire arch of teeth, then a denture secured with a few strategically placed dental implants might be the best way to give you back the smile you’ve been missing.

Rest assured, we will provide you with helpful information and our recommendations at your appointment. We will also answer any questions you have about your treatment options so you can confidently decide the best way to move forward. In other words, we’re here to help make the entire process as smooth and stress-free as possible, so don’t hesitate to get in touch with us to schedule a consultation!

What are Dentures Made Of?

Making a reliable prosthesis starts with picking the right kinds of materials. When it comes to the base of the dentures, acrylic is typically used due to how well it can blend in with the gums. Note that with partial dentures, the acrylic base may also include clips made out of metal. Said clips are necessary for ensuring that the prosthesis stays in place.

The teeth of the dentures can be made out of porcelain or resin; both of these materials can be shaded to match the appearance of your natural teeth. That said, porcelain is generally used more often due to its durability.

The Denture Creation Process

No two mouths are exactly the same, so before the process of making your dentures can begin, our team will need to capture impressions of your oral cavity. This will allow us to create a model of your mouth in order to determine what size and shape your dentures need to be.

Once the model of your mouth has been sent to a dental laboratory, the denture creation process can move forward. This involves the following steps:

• A wax replica of your gums will be created to serve as the temporary base for your dentures.
• An appropriate number of artificial teeth will be attached to the wax base using a device called an articulator.
• The dentures will be sent to our office, and a fitting appointment will be held. We’ll confirm whether the dentures fit properly inside your mouth. Then we’ll return the prosthesis to the lab.
• The dentures will be placed into a small flask, which will subsequently be filled with plaster. Then the wax portion of the dentures will be melted away by placing the flask in hot water.
• Once the wax base is gone, acrylic will be injected into the flask to serve as the new base for the dentures. A liquid separator will be used to stop the acrylic from sticking to the plaster.
• The newly completed dentures will be taken out of the flask. An ultrasonic bath will be used to get rid of any leftover plaster, and unnecessary acrylic will be trimmed away.
• The dentures will be sent to our office one last time. At this point, you’ll be ready to receive your new prosthesis at a final fitting appointment.

Adjusting to Your New Dentures

You’ll eventually reach the point where your dentures feel similar to your natural teeth. But before that, you may experience some mild soreness during the initial adjustment phase. Also, it can take a while to get completely used to eating and speaking with your prosthesis. Fortunately, our team can give you tips to make the adjustment process easier. For example, we often recommend sticking to soft foods that are easy to chew.