Options for Denture Wearers

Experts report that as many as 35 million Americans have no remaining natural teeth and that over 20 million Americans wear dentures. Whether you’ve worn dentures for many years or you are expecting to be fitted for dentures in the near future, you might be surprised to learn that you have a number of options when it comes to the look, fit, and feel of your dentures. Before making this life-changing decision, you should take the time to do some research and learn which denture option best fits your lifestyle needs.

Traditional Dentures

Still the most popular option, traditional dentures are created in much the same way they have been for several decades. Impressions are made of your gum ridge and remaining teeth (if any). These impressions are used to create your custom-fitted dentures in a specialized dental lab. Traditional dentures have two main parts, the gum plate and the teeth, and are secured via suction or denture adhesives.

Fountain of Youth Dentures

This type of denture takes the traditional denture a step further, using a concept called neuromuscular dentistry. During the impression-making process, impressions are taken of the mouth in motion. This results in a more dynamic fit and a set of dentures that complements the natural features of your mouth and face better.

Dental Implant Dentures

Whereas traditional and Fountain of Youth dentures are secured to the gums via suction or adhesives, implant dentures are permanently secured to the underlying jaw with titanium implant posts. As a result, implant dentures are not removed and thus more closely mimic the feel and security of natural teeth. Implant dentures improve chewing ability by anywhere from 50%-80% (compared to 10%-30% improved chewing ability with suction dentures).

Finding Your Best Replacement Teeth

Your dentist is your #1 source for quality advice on which denture option might be best for you. Traditional dentures might be a less expensive option, but you may prefer the security of implant dentures. On the other hand, implant dentures are a great option for some patients, but other patients might not have the healthy jaw bone to support implant posts.