A Cosmetic Dentist Can Provide an Alternative to Dentures

As an experienced cosmetic dentist office, Waldron Family Smile Center provides patients with alternatives to wearing dentures.  For hundreds of years, people have used dentures to replace their damaged or missing teeth. Even our first president wore dentures.  Back then they were made of animal bone and human teeth so they have evolved significantly in both the materials used and their appearance.  The challenge is that while modern dentures are more comfortable than ever, they still fall short of feeling like natural teeth. Dentures can come loose when speaking and eating.  Additionally, they need to be taken out at night and cleaned using a special solution.  These factors combine to make it impossible for a denture patient to feel like they are not wearing anything. As a cosmetic dentist, we offer a variety of solutions and alternatives to dentures.  We start by trying to save our patients teeth whenever possible. Long gone are the days when pulling a tooth was a normal occurrence.  Now, we try to save it using restorative dentistry.  Things like dental veneers can be used to save a cracked or fractured tooth where infected teeth can be saved with a root canal and dental crown.  Reducing the need to pull teeth is an important step in providing our patients with options. Those that have lost a tooth can count on cosmetic dentistry to restore their tooth, in a way, that looks completely natural.  If only one or two teeth have been lost, creating a natural looking dental bridge is a good option.  A bridge is created when a crown is placed on the teeth surrounding the missing tooth. These two teeth serve as an anchor for the bridge, and the new tooth is attached to it.  The result is a natural looking new tooth without oral surgery. The challenge is that the surrounding teeth need to be strong enough to support the new one. When this is not the case, dental implants are a better solution.  When a cosmetic dentist places an implant, it is done securely and without the need to depend on other teeth.  A metal piece is implanted underneath the gum line and secured to the jawbone.  The two elements will eventually fuse together to create a strong synthetic root system that the new tooth will be attached to. This is a surgical procedure that takes several months to complete so many patients will wear a temporary denture in the meantime.  A cosmetic dentist can use dental implants to replace one or all of a person’s teeth with accuracy. This makes the procedure ideal for people that need to have all of their teeth replaced or repaired. The biggest benefit with a dental implant or bridge is that when done correctly, the patient will not have to think about their teeth anymore.  There is no need for additional maintenance or to worry about it falling out.  People can speak normally, eat their favorite foods, and simply brush and floss to keep teeth in good health.  This is ideal for people with active lifestyles that don’t want to be restrained in any way.