Nashville Denture Services
A Reliable Solution for Replacing Teeth
Missing teeth and loose dentures make many people avoid social settings around Nashville because they feel self-conscious about their appearance. Come talk to Dr. Shipp, because the dental procedures offered by Belle Meade Smile Center can help you replace everything from a single missing tooth to completely missing arches.
A Natural-Looking Solution for Missing Teeth
At Belle Meade Smile Center, our patients frequently ask us if dentures are a good solution for their particular needs. As with any dental solution, there are pros and cons to wearing dentures, and whether or not they will work for you depends largely on your lifestyle and the goals that you have for your appearance, including the functionality of your smile.
Losing one or more of your teeth can cause a gap in your smile, the loss of chewing function and the inability to eat a complete diet. While these are certainly serious issuers, a potentially bigger problem likes hidden beneath the surface: bone loss.
Without a tooth to stimulate the jaw, the bone beneath it will begin to atrophy. Since your facial bone supports the skin and muscles on top of it, losing bone volume can cause your face to look prematurely aged.
The good news is that dental implants and dentures offer a solution to stop bone loss.
Benefits of Dentures
Patients throughout the Nashville area remark on how convenient dentures are. Whether you need a full or partial set, dentures can replace teeth in a non-invasive way. There is no surgical element to worry about, and temporary dentures can be fitted immediately. This provides a quick and easy solution.
If, however, you are looking for something that feels more natural, you should consider a cosmetic dentistry procedure.
Finding the Type of Dentures for You
There are many different types of dentures, all with their own features and benefits. Removable dentures are a more traditional option that requires the patient to remove them at night when they sleep, while implant dentures are not removable since we attach them directly to the jaw.
Dr. Shipp won’t recommend implant dentures unless you are healthy and if you do not have any teeth left to use.
To determine the best type of dentures for a patient, Dr. Ship will conduct a thorough examination of the patient's teeth and current level of oral health. From there, we will continue through other steps in the process for a patient who is interested in getting dentures.
Below is a list of the steps in the process:
A Dental Examination
The first step is for our team to examine the patient's teeth and determine the state of the patient's oral health.
During this examination, Dr. Shipp will search for any signs of infection, tooth decay, previous dental work, and any other teeth that may need removal prior to placing the dentures.
Making The Dentures
After the consultation, Dr. Shipp will take a mold of the teeth and measurements to ensure that the dentures fit the remaining teeth exactly.
We will then send these results to a dental lab that will build the dentures to the specifications.
Fitting The Dentures
Once we complete the dentures, we will bring the patient in for a fitting to ensure that the dentures fit without issue.
We will make sure that the individual can use the dentures without pain or issue. If necessary, we will make adjustments to the dentures during this appointment.
Adapting to Dentures
While there will not be any pain, it may take some time to adapt to wearing the dentures.
It may take some time to adapt to eating and speaking with the dentures, but the patient will eventually have the same function and control as with regular teeth.
What If My Dentures Get Damaged?
If you have dentures, it is important to handle them with care so they can remain in as good a condition as possible. Still, it is wise to know what to do in case of damage to your dentures.
We can offer the information and tools necessary to address a problem if one arises. At Belle Meade Smile Center, we can answer any questions you have regarding denture care.
If your dentures are damaged, visit our dental office so we can examine them and determine the best way to fix them.
One thing you should keep in mind is that your dentures will need to be adjusted one or several times when you first receive them.
Patients may call our family dentist office worried that they did something to cause their dentures to fit incorrectly when in actuality, they only need to be adjusted so they can fit perfectly.
Belle Meade Smile Center is an emergency dentist’s office, so if you did indeed damage them, we encourage you to schedule an appointment with our Nashville practice right away.
Home Care Tips for Dentures
You should never try to fix your dentures on your own since this can make the damage worse. However, there are certain things you can do at home before heading to the dentist, including:
- Gather anything that has broken off. We encourage you to gather any piece of your dentures that has broken off, including any of the wiring.
- Use dental wax. If the clasps have become slightly loose, they could be rubbing against your gums and irritating them. In this case, you may want to buy dental wax to place on the wire as a temporary barrier.
- Take them out. Soak your dentures or place them in a case for transportation to our office. Do not continue wearing damaged dentures, especially if they are causing pain or damage.
Warning: Do Not Do This If You Damage Your Dentures!
Belle Meade Smile Center warns patients to avoid doing the following since this can permanently damage dentures and reduce the likelihood that they can be repaired:
- Do not buy a home repair kit. These can cause your dentures to break even further, and we have treated patients who have had to spend more money than they should have because of it.
- Do not use over-the-counter glues. Some of them are full of chemicals that can harm you. It is not worth the risk when you can visit our dental office for help.
Call our Nashville office today to learn more about the different denture options that are available to you.