Comedians to cartoons, dentures have long been an easy mark. Even novelty shops had steady sellers in wind-up dentures that would chomp their way across your desk.
But when a person is missing all or most of his or her teeth, it’s not so funny.
It’s easy to assume most people have most or all of their teeth. But the Centers for Disease Control would argue with that. The CDC has statistics showing that one-quarter of all Americans over the age of 65 have lost all of their teeth. In a state such as Florida, with a sizeable senior population, those numbers could even be higher.
People with all of their teeth can’t relate, but missing all or most of your teeth can make life difficult. Your diet is compromised, and speaking can be a challenge. Even smiling and talking can be tests of a person’s confidence. And that’s not to mention the jawbone erosion that continues because the jawbone no longer receives any stimulation from the teeth above it. This leads to the eventual inward collapse of the lower face.
Dentures from the team at Implant Dentistry of Florida can return quality of life and give a big boost in self-confidence to a person.
Dentures can be life changing
Dr. Brown and Dr. Vaughn can design and fit a set of partial or full dentures for you. Here are the benefits of having dentures:
- Restored ability to bite and chew a wide variety of foods. Think of all the fruits and vegetables you can enjoy again!
- A more youthful appearance. With dentures, your teeth, gums, and jawbone are restored to their original dimensions. And your facial structure doesn’t collapse.
- Better self-image. No longer will you avoid smiling or opening your mouth.
- Clearer speech. You don’t realize the part your teeth play in speech, but it is dramatic.
Types of dentures
Dentures can be either full or partial, depending on the patient’s situation. Full dentures replace an entire set of missing teeth, upper, lower, or both. Partial dentures are usually used to fill a gap of three or more teeth where a bridge won’t provide enough support.
At Implant Dentistry of Florida, we’re big fans of implant-supported dentures. These use a series of dental implants (usually four or five implants on top and bottom) to anchor the denture. The denture then snaps onto the implants. This provides a level of stability that isn’t possible with regular dentures.
If you’re missing most or all of your teeth, dentures can change your life. Call the team at Implant Dentistry of Florida, (321) 372-7700, to set up a consultation.