Dentures – Virginia Beach, VA
Enjoy Your Complete Smile Again
Loss of teeth can happen for several reasons, such as dental injuries, severe tooth decay, or advanced gum disease. No matter why you have missing teeth, our dentists can fill the gaps with dentures. At Smile by Design, we use advanced techniques, excellent biocompatible materials, and years of restorative dentistry experience to create your new smile. If you’re tired of living life with the inconveniences of missing teeth, contact us today to learn whether dentures in Virginia Beach are right for you!
What Are Dentures?
A denture is a custom-made set of prosthetic teeth designed to bring back a patient’s full smile after tooth loss. While you may have grown up hearing your grandparents complain about their awkward and poorly fitting dentures, dental technology has advanced significantly since then. Today’s dentures are personalized to ensure a comfortable, secure fit. Plus, they are made to look completely natural. No one outside of our dental team should even be able to tell that they’re not your “real” teeth!
Types of Dentures
If you’re interested in replacing your lost teeth, you’ll first have to schedule a consultation with us. Based on your specific needs, we may recommend one of the following types of dentures:
Partial Dentures
Even if you’re only missing a few teeth throughout your mouth, smiling and eating can prove difficult. Fortunately, a partial denture can rebuild your smile in a way that makes it virtually impossible for anyone to distinguish between your natural and artificial teeth. Partials are made of prosthetic teeth attached to a gum-colored base. The appliance is secured by metal clasps that subtly fit behind your remaining teeth.
Full Dentures
For patients missing all of their original teeth, we offer full dentures. This solution also consists of a pink acrylic base, but they stay in place due to the gums’ natural suction. For added security, you can also purchase some denture adhesive.
Implant-Retained Dentures
If you’re looking for a solution that is more stable and lasts longer, we can see whether you’d make a good candidate for an implant-retained denture. Your dentist in Virginia Beach can anchor a full or partial denture on top of just four to six of these titanium posts that have been strategically placed throughout your jaw. Because dental implants act as the roots of the teeth, they will keep your jawbone strong. With the right oral hygiene routine, they can last for several decades or even for the rest of your life!
Benefits of Dentures
By choosing dentures as the solution to help you enjoy your complete smile again, here are just a few of the benefits you can expect:
- A renewed ability to bite, chew, talk, and smile
- Boosted confidence from a more attractive appearance
- Improved oral and overall health as a result of being able to eat a variety of nutritious foods
- A personalized, natural-looking solution
- A long-lasting solution to full or partial tooth loss
Schedule Your Dentures Consultation Today!
Dentures and partials improve speaking and chewing abilities and allow you to smile confidently for years to come. At Smile by Design, Drs. Santos and Dr. Folck serve the restorative dentistry needs of Virginia Beach and all surrounding communities. Please make your appointment today!
Denture FAQs
Millions of Americans suffer from extensive tooth loss. It’s an issue that affects not only your appearance but your overall quality of life as well. Luckily, dentures can help you enjoy a complete smile once again. At Smile by Design, we want to be as helpful as possible throughout the process of rebuilding your smile, which is why we’ve decided to answer some frequently asked questions about this method of tooth replacement. If you don’t see your specific question below, feel free to give us a call !
How Long Will You Have to Wait to Get Dentures After Your Teeth Are Pulled?
On average, most patients have to wait between six to eight weeks after getting their teeth pulled to receive dentures. However, the exact amount of time will vary depending on your unique case and the type of denture in question. Even though two months sounds like a long time, it’s necessary to ensure your gums heal properly. Immediate dentures can be placed on the same day as an extraction, but they’ll need to be switched out sooner because the shape of the jawbone changes while you heal. If you’re getting implant dentures, you’ll need to wait between four to six months for the titanium post to fuse with the jawbone via osseointegration.
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
When you first get your dentures, you’ll be asked to keep them in your mouth for an entire 24 hours, including while you sleep. After that initial period, it’s strongly recommended that you remove them every night before bed. Since wearing dentures restricts the circulation in your gums, it’s incredibly important that you take them out during the night. Additionally, sleeping with dentures is associated with poor oral hygiene and an increased risk of pneumonia.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
There are three types of dentures and the requirements for getting each one are different. Let’s take a look at your possible options:
- Partial Dentures – This option is ideal for patients who still have most of their teeth.
- Full Dentures – If you’ve lost all of your teeth or don’t have enough healthy teeth worth saving, your ideal solution may be full dentures.
- Dental Implants – The titanium posts can support dentures if there’s a sufficient amount of jawbone density to support them.
Will It Hurt to Get Dentures?
If you need oral surgery before receiving dentures, you’ll likely experience mild soreness and discomfort following the procedure. Luckily, you can manage it by taking your prescribed over-the-counter pain medication as directed and using a cold compress. When you first get your dentures, you may have some minor irritation while you adjust to the new oral appliances. Although it can take months to get used to your new smile, the exact amount of time varies by patient. If the pain persists or worsens, contact our team right away for assistance.