Dental Dentures
Overview
Do you know that feeling when you’re at dinner and everyone’s ordering the ribeye, but you’re looking at the fish because you know how tough that steak will be? Missing teeth shouldn’t make you the person who always has to choose the tender option.
At Thornhill Smiles Dental, our dental services include dentures that give you back the freedom to enjoy whatever looks good on the menu.
What Are Dentures?
While they might sound fancy with their official name, “removable dental prosthesis,” these helpful dental appliances are really just your new best friend for mealtimes. At their core, they’re a gum-colored base made from sturdy acrylic resin with artificial teeth attached, built to look natural and handle whatever you throw at them.
How Dentures Stay Put
Since getting a snug fit makes all the difference, we create each appliance from a precise impression of your unique mouth. Once you’re wearing them:
- Upper dentures create gentle suction against the roof of your mouth, with saliva keeping everything secure
- Lower dentures work with your tongue and cheek muscles for support
- Average lifespan spans 5 to 10 years before needing adjustments
Between normal wear from enjoying good food and natural changes in your mouth, removable dentures simply become part of your daily routine.
From Chewing to Speech: How Dentures Help
When it comes to practical benefits, you’ll notice:
1. Better eating: Fresh apples, tender steaks, and crunchy vegetables become manageable again.
2. Clearer speech: Tricky ‘s’ and ‘f’ sounds get easier when your tongue has something to work with.
3. Natural facial support: Giving your facial muscles structure prevents that hollow appearance.
4. Protection for remaining teeth: Filling empty spaces stops your natural teeth from shifting.
What’s Needed for a Successful Fit?
With healthy gum tissue and adequate jawbone support, you can enjoy all these benefits comfortably. Additionally, as a non-surgical option that costs significantly less than implants, this approach provides many people with the functionality they desire without the complexity they don’t need.
Finding Your Perfect Match
Just like choosing the right home for your family, finding the perfect dentures depends on your lifestyle, personal preferences, and what works best for your unique situation.
Partial Dentures
These work beautifully when you still have some healthy teeth worth keeping. They replace just the missing ones by attaching to your existing teeth with either metal clips (more affordable) or flexible, tooth-colored materials (virtually invisible).
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures (or full dentures) replace all teeth in your upper or lower jaw. You have two timing approaches:
1) Immediate dentures get placed the same day your teeth come out, so you never go without. Since your mouth reshapes during healing, this convenience means more follow-up visits for adjustments.
2) Conventional dentures involve waiting 2-3 months for complete healing first, then creating dentures fitted to your settled gums for the most precise results.
Implant-Supported Overdentures
These offer a reliable, long-term solution for patients who want the stability and functionality of dental implants without the discomfort of traditional dentures. Unlike removable dentures, which rest on the gums, these overdentures are securely attached to implants placed in the jawbone, providing a firm fit that stays in place during meals, conversation, and daily activities.
Key Benefits:
- Enhanced Stability: No slipping or shifting, offering greater comfort and confidence.
- Improved Functionality: Enjoy a wider range of foods with better bite force and stability.
- Preserves Jawbone Health: Prevents bone loss by stimulating the jawbone, maintaining its density.
- Long-Term Durability: Implant-supported overdentures last longer than traditional dentures, making them a cost-effective option.
- Natural Appearance: Custom-designed to blend seamlessly with your natural smile, enhancing both function and appearance.
The Process:
1. Consultation: We’ll assess your oral health and plan the procedure based on your needs.
2. Implant Placement: Dental implants are surgically placed into the jawbone.
3. Healing Period: Implants fuse with the bone during a healing period of several months.
4. Attaching the Overdenture: Once the implants are secure, the overdenture is fitted and adjusted for comfort.
Implant-supported overdentures offer a stable, comfortable, and aesthetic solution for those looking to replace missing teeth. They provide better functionality, improve oral health, and boost your confidence in daily activities.
What to Expect During the Denture Process
Working with our experienced dental professionals means you’ll have knowledgeable guides who genuinely care about making each step as smooth as possible.
Your First Visit: Impressions and Planning
During this appointment, we take precise molds of your mouth and create wax models so your new teeth will bite together beautifully. Our modern digital imaging technology delivers superior accuracy, giving you assurance in the results from day one.
The Wax Try-in Appointment
This is where things get exciting. You’ll try on a wax version of your denture design and see your new smile taking shape. You get to approve the tooth shape, color, and overall appearance while adjustments are still simple to make.
Final Fitting and Delivery
When you receive your finished dentures, we make immediate adjustments so everything feels natural and secure right away.
Throughout all dental visits, our team’s multi-disciplinary approach means you’re in great hands every step of the way.
Caring for Your New Dentures and Gums
And finally, just like tending a garden, keeping your dentures and mouth healthy flourishes with consistent daily care.
- Remove and rinse dentures after eating
- Brush daily with a soft denture brush and non-abrasive cleanser (avoid regular toothpaste)
- Soak overnight in a proper solution to maintain shape
- Gently brush gum tissue, tongue, and palate after removing dentures
Our Office
390 Steeles Avenue West #205 Thornhill, ON L4J 6X2
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (905) 707 6477
Quick Links
Office Hours
Monday to Wednesday 9AM-8PM
Thursday and Friday 9AM-7PM
Saturday (Every Other)9AM-3PM
Sunday Closed
Schedule Your Dentures Consultation Today
Feeling the confidence to laugh freely and share your smile with the world again is a change we love to see in you, and it all begins with a conversation about your custom dentures.
Here at Thornhill Smiles Dental, we make that first step easy. We welcome everyone in our diverse community. Our team speaks eleven languages, and our flexible schedule makes booking a breeze, with hours that include evenings until 7:00 PM (Mon-Wed) and alternating Saturdays.
Contact us today for your personal consultation, and let’s help you craft the perfect fit for your future.
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