Dentures | West Dental Implants

A Smile That Works for You

Tooth loss is a common occurrence among adults in the United States. According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, people between the ages of 20 and 64 have lost an average of three teeth, excluding wisdom teeth. The average number of missing teeth increases significantly in seniors over age 65. By that age, the Centers for Disease Control states that nearly one in four Americans no longer have any natural teeth.

West Dental Implant and Prosthetics in Durango, Colorado offers full, partial, and implant-supported dentures. If you are missing one or more of your natural teeth and want to learn more about dentures in Durango, ask your regular dentist to write you a referral for a consultation to learn more.

During your appointment, our Durango prosthodontist will complete a full exam, including X-rays of your jaws, gums, and remaining teeth, if any. We will also take an impression of any remaining teeth to create a mold. Our dental laboratory receives copies of the images and your impressions to assist the technicians in creating your new dentures Durango.

older black woman with short grey hair wearing a pink blouse and smiling

Types of Dentures

Full Dentures

Full dentures are used to replace all teeth. They’re fully removable and you’ll take them out for cleaning. Your full set of dentures will be custom-created to fit on your gums comfortably so you’ll be able to wear them all day.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures can be used to replace several or many teeth. The difference between full and partial dentures is that you’ll still have other teeth with partials. Just like full dentures, they’re customized for you and fully removable.

Are You a Candidate for Dentures?

You may be a candidate for dentures if you:

Are missing several or all of your teeth
Want a beautiful smile
Want to be able to eat hard foods
Have low self-confidence due to tooth loss

Why Replacing Missing Teeth is Important

Some patients assume that replacing missing teeth is only a cosmetic concern. Nothing could be further from the truth. When you have some natural teeth with some missing, the remaining teeth can shift towards the open spot and force all teeth out of alignment. Unfortunately, misaligned teeth can put added strain on your jaw joints that results in significant pain. This is due to your upper and lower jaws not meeting properly. Other benefits of replacing missing teeth with dentures in Durango include:

Durango dentures prevent facial sagging that can also lead to jaw pain.
You can enjoy many of your favorite foods again, especially some that may have been too hard to bite into with only some of your teeth.
You can smile with confidence.
Missing teeth can impact the clarity of speech but having dentures in place eliminates this problem.

Our Durango prosthodontist offers both full and partial dentures. Full dentures consist of two rows of artificial teeth, one for your top jaw and the other for your lower jaw. You should remove your full dentures before going to bed each night and to clean them. Because we take care to ensure a custom fit, you should have no problem comfortably wearing your full dentures all day. This is all true of partial dentures as well. With partial dentures, our laboratory technicians create them to fit with and blend into your remaining natural teeth.

gloved dentist's hand holding an upper denture

How to Take Great Care of Your Dentures

Keeping your dentures clean is important. We highly recommend making it a daily habit to clean them after receiving your dentures in Durango. The process is as simple as removing the dentures from your mouth and scrubbing off debris with a soft-bristled toothbrush. You will need to add a small about of denture cleanser first. When you’re getting ready for bed, remove your dentures and place them in a cup containing cleaning solution made specifically for dentures.

Keep in mind that you will likely need to replace your dentures at some point. One of the most obvious signs that dentures are no longer effective is when you just can’t get a good fit and they continue to slide around in your mouth. The best thing you can do to extend the lifespan of your dentures is to keep them clean and not subject them to unnecessary stress.

We understand that traditional dentures in Durango are not an option for everyone. If you have trouble wearing dentures for any reason, we recommend that you consider implant-supported dentures. The metal rod portion of the implant attaches to your jaw using dental implants to provide a secure placement and fit. These are non-removable dentures that function just like your natural teeth.

Contact Us to Learn More

If you’re interested in a new set of dentures or your denture needs to be examined, Dr. Robison is happy to help you. To learn more about your options, call our office at 970-259-5600, fill out our contact form, or ask your dentist for a referral today. We can’t wait to hear about how we can help you love your smile.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are dentures comfortable?

Can dentures cause dry mouth?

Will dentures change the shape of my face?

Are dentures comfortable?

Yes, dentures are custom-created for your mouth. That means they’ll fit on your gums comfortably and snug. Sometimes, denture adhesive can help your dentures stay in place throughout the day.

Over time, your dentures may loosen with regular wear. This is normal and we can fix or replace your dentures so they’ll be easier to wear. You can also consider a more permanent option such as implant-supported dentures, which you don’t have to remove for cleaning.

Can dentures cause dry mouth?

No, dentures don’t cause issues with dry mouth. But dry mouth can cause issues with your dentures. That’s because denture adhesive requires saliva in order to work properly. If you don’t have enough saliva to bond with the adhesive, your dentures may be uncomfortable.

If you have difficulty with dry mouth, implant-supported dentures may be a better option for you. These dentures are fixed to your jaw using dental implants, so they stay in place throughout the day and don’t have to be removed for cleaning.