Dentures Alternatives – What Are Some Alternative Options For Dentures?

Missing teeth can have a greater impact on more than just your smile. For many who are missing one or more teeth, it affects their self-esteem and confidence. Fortunately, there are many ways that your dentist can remedy the situation.

The most common solution is dentures. However, there are a variety of dentures alternatives that are available and are worth exploring. In this article, we will take a look at both dentures and false teeth alternatives to give you a better idea of the options available to fix your smile.

Dentures

There are two common types of dentures. They include temporary and permanent. Under the permanent dentures category are two different types. They are full dentures and partial dentures.

Temporary Dentures

Temporary dentures are also known as “immediate” dentures. That is because they are fitted immediately after surgery. They are used as basically a stand-in replacement following oral surgery.

The main goal with temporary dentures is to keep your natural teeth properly spaced apart as your gum tissue heals. Once that process is completed, you will need to be fitted with permanent dentures as the stand-in temporary dentures are not fitted for long-term usage.

Permanent Dentures

Permanent dentures are also known as conventional dentures and are molded to your mouth but not until your gum tissue has fully recovered. This can take several weeks.

The primary goal with permanent dentures is to create a fit that sits perfectly over your gums. The false teeth are designed to have the appearance of natural teeth and the plates they are attached to are made to look like natural gum tissue so when you speak, smile, or eat, no one should be able to tell that you have false teeth.

The process of getting dentures starts with your dentist who will advise you on what is your best choice based on the number of teeth you are trying to replace with false teeth. Impressions of your jaw are taken over follow-up visits which result in the creation of a wax bite impression. This leads to a plastic model that is used to create dentures that will fit precisely inside your mouth. The final result is dentures that sit on your gums and fit naturally and comfortably. For an in-depth look at the complete denture procedure, click here.

Over time, should your gumline change shape naturally with age, or suffer any kind of trauma, your dentures may not fit as well as they did previously. This is where you may have to have your permanent dentures relined.

There are DIY denture reline kits available. However, for best results, it may be best to get a professional denture reline. This process essentially shapes the bottoms of the plates so that they once again fit snuggly over your gumline. This is a common procedure that may be required more than once during the lifetime of your dentures.

Full Dentures

When it is necessary to remove or replace all of your natural teeth, full dentures are the typical choice. These false teeth mount inside of your mouth and sit on your gum tissue once it has healed properly from oral surgery. The healing process can take months but the benefit of full dentures is that they will have the appearance of natural teeth and will push your lips and cheeks out to eliminate a sunken appearance.

Full dentures, like any kind of false teeth, take some getting used to and there are some foods you may end up avoiding to prevent issues with them. Also, cleaning your dentures is very important and requires a process you will have to learn to follow.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures (or “partials”) are used when only a few missing teeth require replacement. Partial dentures are attached to neighboring natural teeth with metal clips that wrap around a tooth or teeth to hold them in place.

Dentures Alternatives – Affordable Alternatives To Dentures

As stated above, there are alternative options for dentures. Not everyone can afford dentures nor are dentures the right solution for some individuals. However, three good choices are as effective in being false teeth and will still improve your smile and boost your self-confidence. They include dental implants, overdentures, and dental bridges.

Dental Implants

The most popular and effective cheap alternative to dentures are dental implants. These are titanium posts that are inserted into your jawbone. Replacement teeth are attached to them. It will take a few months for the implants to properly bond with your jawbone for this procedure to be successful.

Dental implants are favorite dentures alternative because they offer a long-term, durable option as they are not removable and are comfortable enough for everyday activities that your natural teeth would be used for. However, not everyone is suitable for dental implants. You first need to have healthy gums and enough supportive bone in your jaw for the implants to properly fuse.

Overdentures

Overdentures are often the best false teeth alternatives when most teeth are missing. Instead of using adhesives to stay in place as is the case with traditional dentures, overdentures are held in place by either dental implants or remaining teeth.

Because overdentures are held securely in place, they are stable and don’t move around when you eat or talk. They also are known to provide stimulation to the jawbone which may prevent bone loss from occurring.

Dental Bridges

A dental bridge is an affordable alternative to dentures if all you are missing is a single tooth. This dentures alternative acts to suspend a prosthetic tooth that is held in place by either a dental implant or crowns on either side of the missing tooth.

Although some healthy tooth structure will have to be removed from adjacent teeth to place the crowns, a dental bridge will remain solid and secure once in place.

In Conclusion

While some false teeth options are quite expensive, there are some more affordable alternatives to dentures. You will just have to discuss what the best options are with your dentist to see if one of them is suitable for your specific situation.

If it turns out that your dentist recommends a set of false teeth instead of one of the cheap alternatives to dentures, you may be able to enroll in one of many different payment plans to assist with covering the cost. For more information on denture prices and payment options, click here.

If you have a missing tooth or several missing teeth, or you think you may need dentures, there are alternative options for dentures which may be better suited to your specific circumstances. So make sure that you speak to your dentist about the various dentures alternatives.