Prosthodontics

Dentures in Westchester County

A denture (or complete denture) is an appliance that is worn in the mouth to replace natural teeth and provide support for the cheeks and lips. The teeth themselves are made of plastic, porcelain or a combination of both. People who need dentures have usually lost many or all of their teeth due to decay or aging, and need a solution that will help them speak naturally, chew food thoroughly, and hold their cheeks and lips out so they don’t “fall in” or create a sunken appearance.

Benefits of Dentures

Dentures made in our in-house lab are a custom way to replace missing teeth.

Dentures, made by a Westchester prosthodontist, are a great solution to missing teeth.

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Full dentures can resolve many of the challenges faced by partially or completely edentulous (toothless) patients. Some of the benefits of a well-made and properly fitted denture include:

The ability to return to a more normal diet
Better speech function (tooth loss can affect many common letter sounds)
Higher self-confidence and self-esteem
A younger look, as sunken cheeks are filled out

Properly fitted and maintained dentures can last for years – how long depends on a variety of factors, such as changes to the mouth and jaw, wear, and comfort levels. A prosthodontist is an expert on fitting dentures and can help ensure you regain full function without discomfort.

Denture Procedure

Most dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated two different ways. A conventional denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have healed. An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted and the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture.

An upper denture normally utilized a flesh-colored acrylic, and is shaped to cover the palate (roof of the mouth). A lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue. Over a normal course of time, dentures will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment normal. The alignment will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth.

Regular dentist examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change. If a sore in the mouth develops under a denture, visit your Westchester dentist as soon as possible to prevent infection.