Dentures – Pittsburgh, PA
Rebuilding Smiles with High-Quality Solutions
Losing even a single tooth can make everyday life challenging. If you’re missing most or all of your pearly whites, you probably have difficulties speaking clearly, chewing tough foods, and smiling with confidence. Luckily, you don’t have to suffer through these consequences forever! At Warwick Dentistry, Dr. Joyce and Dr. Jack Warwick offer lifelike, comfortable dentures in Pittsburgh, PA to help you complete your smile. If you’re ready to enjoy a personalized tooth loss solution, please call our office to find out more!
Why Choose Warwick Dentistry for Dentures?
- Two Dentists with 30+ Years of Experience Each
- State-of-the-Art Dental Technology Used
- Implant Dentures Placed In-House
Who’s a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Whether you’re missing several teeth or an entire arch, the vast majority of adults who are dealing with tooth loss make good candidates for dentures. To make sure you’re eligible for one of these custom-made prosthetics, our dentists will closely examine your mouth and discuss the current state of your oral health. If we detect any problems, such as gum disease or decay in your remaining teeth, we’ll devise a treatment plan to ensure your new smile will be as healthy and beautiful as possible.
Effects of Missing Teeth
A person can lose their teeth because of several reasons, the most common ones being complications like gum disease, tooth decay, and physical trauma. Whatever the cause, there are a wide range of consequences if you don’t address tooth loss. Not only will you experience aesthetic issues that can decrease your self-confidence, but you’ll also have difficulties in speaking and chewing. Since the jawbone can begin to deteriorate from a lack of stimulation from tooth roots, you might also experience facial sagging or a more aged appearance. Without treatment, tooth loss can significantly impact your oral health and overall quality of life. This is what makes dentures an incredibly valuable solution, as it can quickly and conveniently improve your overall well-being.
What Qualifies You for Dentures?
If you’re fully matured and have lost some or all of your teeth, then you’re most likely a good candidate for dentures. They can be specifically customized to match your specific needs, as you can either get a partial, full, or implant denture based on your situation. That said, our team will first have to ensure that you have good oral health before moving forward with your treatment, such as strong and healthy gum tissue and adequate jawbone density. Any underlying complications will need to be addressed beforehand so that you won’t have to worry about any issues arising without your knowledge. Once we’ve confirmed that you’re in great shape, we can move forward with your treatment plan.
Alternative Tooth-Replacement Options
If dentures aren’t a viable option for you, it doesn’t mean you’ll be out of options for replacing missing teeth. Our team offers a couple more solutions for restoring your bite, including:
- Dental bridges: These restorations are designed to “bridge” the gap in your smile by placing two dental crowns atop healthy teeth on either side of the space, which are connected via pontics (artificial teeth). These abutment teeth will need to be prepared first by removing a tiny portion of the enamel to allow the crowns to fit perfectly. The results can last around a decade before needing to be replaced.
- Dental implants: Our team can embed titanium posts into your jawbone so that your crown, bridge, or denture can be secured. This solution requires that you have strong and sufficient jawbone density to support the implants. Though the upfront cost is higher than traditional dentures, you can expect to enjoy your results for several decades to a lifetime with minimal care.
Types of Dentures
Because dental technology has come so far in the past few decades, today’s dentures look more realistic and restore more biting and chewing function than ever before. Your dentist in Pittsburgh will recommend one of the following types of dentures based on your specific needs and preferences.
Full Dentures
As its name suggests, a full denture is designed to replace a whole arch of teeth at the same time. A row of custom-made teeth is attached to a pink base that sits on top of the gums and stays in place via natural suction and possibly a small amount of denture adhesive. Full dentures are removable so that you can easily clean them.
Partial Dentures
Patients who still have some healthy teeth remaining may benefit from a partial denture. Like full dentures, partials are removeable and consist of a gum-colored acrylic base and several artificial teeth. The main difference is that a partial fills the gaps in your grin using a metal clasp that is attached behind your real teeth. Others shouldn’t be able to tell which teeth are natural and which are the denture!
Implant Dentures
For added security and a longer lifespan, full or partial dentures can be anchored onto dental implants that are surgically placed in the jaw. These biocompatible posts stimulate the jawbone from the inside, preventing the bone loss that often occurs after teeth go missing. They also keep your prosthetic firmly in place at all times. They can be removable or fixed in placed depending on your preferences.
The Benefits of Dentures
You’ll be happy to learn that there are plenty of benefits you can look forward to when you replace your missing teeth with dentures in Pittsburgh. These include:
- A tried-and-true tooth replacement method that has restored millions of Americans’ smiles.
- Support for your facial structures that help you maintain a youthful glow.
- A prosthetic that fills the empty spaces in your smile, preventing your remaining teeth from shifting out of alignment.
- Replacement teeth that are easy to care for.
- Boosted self-confidence.
- Easier eating.
- An affordable, non-invasive tooth loss solution.
Denture FAQs
Do you want to know more before committing to dentures in Pittsburgh? Our expert team has rounded up some of the most common questions about dentures and answered them below. From the average age for dentures to whether you can still kiss while wearing false teeth, we hope you find this information useful! To learn even more and determine if you are a good candidate for this type of dental restoration, schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Warwick.
What Is the Average Age for Dentures?
Although tooth loss is not inevitable, it does become far more common the older you get. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, around 66% of adults between the ages of 40 and 64 are missing at least one tooth, compared to only 33% of adults aged 20-39. So, you are more likely to need partial or full dentures if you are over the age of 40. However, people of all ages can potentially benefit from dentures if they are missing multiple teeth.
Will Dentures Change the Shape of My Face?
When you lose teeth, your facial muscles will eventually begin to sag. This can give your face an aged, sunken appearance. Dentures can improve the shape of your face by supporting collapsed facial muscles. However, ill-fitting dentures may not give your facial muscles the proper support. That’s why it’s important to choose an experienced denture dentist in Pittsburgh who can design a restoration that fits perfectly in your mouth.
Is It Hard to Talk with Dentures?
When you first get dentures, it may take some time to adjust to speaking with your new artificial teeth. This length of this adjustment process varies from person to person. However, the more you practice, the faster you will get used to speaking with dentures! Reading a book or newspaper out loud to yourself and repeating difficult-to-pronounce words is a good exercise. You can also try speaking slower than you normally do, as fast speech may come out muffled if you’re not used to talking with dentures. If your dentures seem to be shifting when you speak, try biting down and swallowing before you begin to talk. This will help ensure your false teeth are in the proper position. Denture adhesive can also help give your new teeth extra stability while you are still adjusting to them.
Can You Kiss with Dentures?
Dentures in Pittsburgh don’t have to mean the end of romance! It’s completely possible to kiss while wearing dentures – it just may take time to get used to how it feels. Since dentures don’t contain any nerves like real teeth do, you have to be cautious to avoid kissing anyone too hard or bumping your dentures against your partner’s teeth. Kissing gently is the way to go when you’re wearing dentures.
Can I Use Regular Toothpaste to Clean My Dentures?
Cleaning your dentures daily is very important, but you shouldn’t use toothpaste to do it. Instead, brush your false teeth with hand soap, mild dishwashing liquid, or specialized denture cleaner. Toothpaste is abrasive and can leave microscopic scratches on the surface of dentures. Over time, it can leave your false teeth seriously damaged. For the same reason, you should only use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your dentures.