Of all the things that can go wrong with our teeth, losing a permanent tooth is perhaps the most distressing. You’re losing the very structure that helps you in chewing, pronouncing your words, and maintaining a presentable smile on your face. Just the cosmetic aspect of tooth loss alone compels people to seek a remedy for it.

Regardless of whether your tooth loss was a consequence of gum disease or injury, you can find a solution in dental dentures. A denture is an artificial structure of teeth and gums that can be placed in the area you’re missing teeth. Since dentures are removable, you can take them off easily before you head to bed or when you need to clean them. And while they can’t make up for missing teeth completely, dentures still provide some of the regular functions of natural teeth to an extent.

What to Expect When Getting a Denture

If you have an appointment with your dentist to get a denture made and fitted, here’s what to expect. Typically, they’ll start by taking an impression of your teeth, which is needed for the mold of your denture. Since your denture will need to be fitted into your mouth accurately, this step helps with getting the alignment right. Your dentist will use a sticky, thick substance called alginate to create a dental impression.

Your dentist will use a metal or plastic tray to place the alginate material over your teeth, which hardens quickly in a few minutes. Once done, it takes the form of your dental anatomy, which makes the next step easier. Usually, in a laboratory, the final material that will create your denture is then poured into this impression, and the process is thus completed.

Dentures can be made of a variety of materials, including resin, porcelain, and plastic. When you get a dental impression, the process is usually painless, but some people report having their gag reflex triggered.

Partial vs. Full Dentures

A common way to categorize dentures is how much area they’re going to occupy. Partial dentures are placed on only a part of your gum line and fastened to nearby teeth. You’ll require such a denture when you have only a few teeth missing from the teeth row.

Complete or full dentures, on the other hand, are used when you’re missing an entire row of teeth. You can have one fitted for your top or bottom gum line. They’re placed into your mouth by way of an oral adhesive or suction.

Missing a tooth? Rapha Dental in New Jersey will help you find a solution. Get dentures and other restorative dental procedures by booking an appointment with us now.