When dental patients are missing one or more of their teeth, there are many options available to replace them with fake teeth. Some patients opt for dentures, whereas others prefer a more permanent solution, such as dental implants and implant-supported restorations like permanent dentures. At Constitution Dental, we offer a range of restorative dental treatments and procedures to replace missing teeth, and we’d be more than happy to discuss your options when you book an appointment at our dental clinic in Downtown Ottawa. Give us a call, or continue reading to learn about the benefits and drawbacks of removable and permanent dentures.
Removable Dentures
When you think of dentures, an image of removable dentures probably comes to mind. You might recall a movie scene where someone’s dentures fell out of their mouth, or you might think of your grandparents’ dentures sitting out on the bathroom counter when you visited their house over the holidays. Either way, you’re on the right track. Removable dentures are a dental prosthetic that is formed to a person’s mouth, so they can eat and talk more comfortably. As the name implies, removable dentures can be taken out and put in without the help of your family dentist, so you can take them out to sleep and put them back in to eat, talk, etc. Depending on your amount of tooth loss, your dentist will create one of these two options if you prefer removable dentures:
- Removable partial dentures. Dental patients who are only missing some of their teeth may opt for removable partial dentures, which are a dental prosthetic made of fake teeth that are held in place with metal clasps. Removable partial dentures are a good option for people who are missing one or more teeth and don’t want to invest in dental implants or commit to a permanent denture solution.
- Removable complete dentures. Edentulous patients who are missing all of their teeth on one or both arches in the mouth have limited options when it comes to dental restoration, and in many cases, they turn to removable complete dentures. These full sets of fake teeth are created in a dental lab and are shaped to fit the contours of your mouth perfectly. Ideally, removable complete dentures will be comfortable to wear and allow you to eat, speak, and go about your day normally.
Overall, removable dentures are a good option for dental patients who are missing teeth and don’t have the budget or need for dental implants. However, there are several drawbacks of removable dentures. The first is that they do not provide as much functionality as implant-supported restorations do, since they aren’t anchored to the underlying jawbone. Over time, this results in further jawbone deterioration, which can cause the jaw to recede and become more fragile. Sufficient jawbone density is required for dental implants and implant-supported restorations to be successful, so if you opt for removable dentures, you might not be able to change your mind down the road.
Permanent Dentures
Permanent or “fixed” dentures refer to a prosthetic tooth replacement that is permanently held in place by denture implants. During dental implant surgery, your dentist will secure your fake tooth replacement by screwing one or more dental implants into the jawbone. Over the next few months, your jawbone will brow around the titanium posts, holding them in place for a very, very long time. The result? A perfectly functioning smile that looks and works great! Here are the two types of permanent dentures we offer at our dental office in Downtown Ottawa:
- Fixed Partial Dentures. This is the permanent version of removable partial dentures. Also referred to as dental bridges, permanent partial dentures can either be attached to the adjacent natural teeth or secured with one or more dental implants. If they are permanently fixed with denture implants, this restores far more functionality to the bite while stimulating jawbone regrowth.
- Fixed Complete Dentures. Patients who are missing all of their teeth on either the upper arch, lower arch, or both arches can benefit from fixed complete dentures. These permanent dentures are secured in place by several dental implants, providing a permanent solution for tooth loss.
In general, there are more benefits of permanent dentures than there are for removable dentures, the most obvious being the improved functionality that denture implants provide. With permanent dentures, you can bite, chew, and speak fairly normally, since the prosthetic is held in place and doesn’t move around in your mouth. In addition, fixed dentures stimulate jawbone regrowth, making them a great option for people who are missing teeth and want to minimize jawbone resorption and the complications that come with it.
Another great option for patients who are missing all of their teeth is full dental implants. During this procedure, your dentist will place individual dental implants in their ideal position, adding a temporary denture for aesthetic purposes. You’ll need to wait for the bone to grow around the titanium post over the next few months (a process called “osseointegration”), then you can make an appointment to have an abutment (dental crown) attached. When the process is complete, you’ll have a beautiful new smile that looks great and functions just as well as real teeth.
Visit Our Downtown Ottawa Dental Clinic For A Consultation
If any of the restorative dentistry options listed above sound like the right solution for you, we invite you to schedule a consultation at our dental office in Downtown Ottawa. Our dentists would be happy to explain the process of removable and permanent dentures, as well as dental implants if you are a good candidate for these treatments. Contact our team at Constitution Dental to get started!