Complete your most confident, comfortable, unique, and healthy smile with advanced denture options
Dentures as a treatment are older than you may realize. Wealthy ancient Italians used teeth from another person or oxen and other animals. Naturally, these materials broke down quickly. Human teeth and animal bones remained the materials of choice until around the 18th century, when porcelain was first used. Metals were introduced in the 19th century, with acrylic resin and other plastics to follow in the 1900s.
While today’s partials and complete dentures are made from some of the materials mentioned above, there are, thankfully, more types of denture designs to optimally fit your unique needs and personal preferences. The Bell Dental Group of Alexandria, Virginia, gets to know your one-of-a-kind needs and goals. So, you can achieve lasting comfort, healthy function, and satisfaction from your dramatically improved smile.
A note on materials
The type of material used depends on the type of denture customized to your mouth. For example, partial dentures may include a plastic-covered metal base and plastic teeth. Complete dentures are generally made with a gum-colored, acrylic base and plastic or porcelain teeth. The dentures that we use also reflect significant technological and scientific advancements. We now have conventional, precision-fit removable full and partial dentures and a “hybrid” approach that uses a blend of “traditional” dentures and dental implants positioned in the jawbone. Furthermore, some conventional dentures may even be retrofitted with implants to improve their durability and comfort. Again, we thoroughly evaluate your mouth and work closely with you to determine the best option for your smile and self.
Full-mouth dentures
When you think of ways to replace a number of teeth, this may be the first option to come to mind. This removable prosthetic is made from a flesh-colored, acrylic plastic base and either plastic or porcelain teeth. Full dentures are for edentulous or completely toothless patients. Any remaining teeth must be pulled and tissues healed before the denture is placed.
A related type of prosthetic, the immediate denture, may be inserted after teeth are pulled. So, you don’t have to be toothless while dentures are made by one of our lab partners and while tissues are healing. This initial provisional denture is replaced by the permanent denture, which is placed after the tissues have healed and the swelling has subsided.
“Partials”
The basic concept behind partial dentures is the same as with full dentures, only scattered gaps where multiple teeth used to be are replaced. The artificial teeth sit on top of a metal framework. This framework attaches to existing natural teeth. In some cases, crowns are placed to “anchor” the denture properly. Partial dentures also offer a removable alternative to fixed bridges supported by surrounding, crown-covered abutment teeth.
Implant dentures
Also known as an “overdenture,” the implant-supported denture is made up of a gum-colored, plastic base connected to the jaw via dental implants positioned in the bone by our skilled implantologist. Just like dental implant procedures to replace a single tooth or a few teeth, this is a permanent option. A key benefit is the design most closely reconstructs the natural tooth, as it is a sum of its parts; the teeth are connected to the surrounding bone by the “artificial tooth roots” or dental implants. With such a natural design, natural function follows. The bone loss historically associated with removable dentures is minimized.
Dentures are truly transformative. Benefit from all that modern dentistry and the team at The Bell Group has to offer. Call (703) 783-4557 with questions or concerns and to schedule an appointment at our Alexandria, VA office.
