Full & Partial Dentures
If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, dentures can help restore your smile, and we can do that with full or partial artificial teeth if you’re not a good candidate for other types of dental prosthetics.
Full dentures are used when all of your teeth are missing and consist of a plastic base that fits over your gums; the base is attached to artificial teeth. Full dentures can be removed and put back whenever you like.
Partial dentures are typically indicated when some natural teeth remain; partials fit around the existing teeth and are held in place by metal clasps or attachments that are removed for cleaning and other activities that you’d prefer to remove them for, like eating or sleeping.
Denture Benefits
There are several benefits to both full and partials:
- They restore your smile
- Improve your chewing
- Fill in gaps left by missing teeth
- Prevent other teeth from shifting
Dr. Hahn and his team will discuss the pros and cons of full and partial dentures with you. Both types are affordable, making them a leading choice for many people.
Implant-Retained & Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are full-mouth restorations supported by dental implants. With these, your biting force is directed onto the dental implants, and the denture does not rely on the gum tissue for support.
For this to work successfully, six to eight dental implants are required for support. The more implants allow the patient more options regarding the type of dental appliance used to replace missing teeth. While removable dentures that snap onto implants are one choice, patients may choose a hybrid screw-retained option, a fixed bridge, or even a dental crown and bridge to replace their natural teeth.
Dr. Hahn and his team will explain the various options of implant-retained tooth prosthetics that would work for you. Implant-supported dentures are the closest to natural teeth and are made from high-quality materials, making them more costly than traditional dentures.
Implant-retained teeth replacements require fewer dental implants and clip or snap into place for security and stability. The prostheses continues to receive part of its support from the gum tissue while Implant-retained are removable, so they can easily be cleaned and put back into place.
For patients with limited bone mass, mini dental implants can be placed instead of endosteal implants to help improve denture security. Implant-retained dentures are a happy medium between conventional and implant-supported dentures; they also allow for many benefits Dr. Hahn will review with you.
Neuromuscular Dentures
Neuromuscular dentures are the most customized and deliver the best comfort, fit, function, and aesthetics. One significant benefit is that they are more comfortable and appear more natural than traditional full mouth tooth replacements because of their unique design.
Neuromuscular dentures are popular because they help enhance facial appearance by supporting facial muscles. Supported facial muscles help support our face’s skin, keeping it tight and wrinkle-free, contributing to a younger appearance. When you remove them, your face will not shrink, and your muscles will remain in place.
Neuromuscular or physiologic dentures differ from conventional replacement sets of teeth because they’re created with your whole body in mind. Neuromuscular dentists, like Dr. Adam Hahn, focus on how the face and neck’s teeth, jaw, muscles, nerves, and soft tissues work together.
Neuromuscular dentures do much more than simply replace missing teeth; they fit in your mouth based on the structure of your jaw, face and neck muscles, and teeth. The most significant benefit over regular dentures is that they gently move your jaw into an optimal position to help create a proper bite, allowing your jaw to relax.
With neuromuscular dentures, the jaw is in its ideal place for chewing and speaking; achieving the proper bite helps to correct or prevent jaw problems like Temporomandibular Joint Disorder (TMJ/TMD).
The Denture Fountain of Youth® Difference
The Denture Fountain of Youth® (FOY® Dentures) resembles All-On-4® Dental Implants in their ability to support facial structures and provide a youthful appearance. While not the same as All-On-4® implants, these leverage neuromuscular dentistry principles to offer a natural look and reduce the appearance of aging associated with traditional dentures.
FOY® Dentures provide maximum support to your face, jaw, and neck muscles. As your teeth wore down and eventually were lost, your facial tissues began to sink and collapse in the area between your nose and chin.
The Denture Fountain of Youth® restores the proper proportions to your face, eliminating the sunken-in appearance—the look that makes these artificial tooth replacements obvious. Our advanced option reduces the appearance of jowls, facial folds, and sagging skin, which means a more youthful, healthy appearance.
If you’re struggling with deciding between tooth replacement options, please allow implant dentist Dr. Adam Hahn to guide you through this critical decision-making process.
Contact the Team at Dr. Hahn’s Office Today
Please call (803) 781-9090 to schedule an evaluation or complete our online contact form. One of our team members will reach out to answer any questions you may still have or assist you with scheduling with our Columbia, SC implant dentist, Dr. Adam Hahn.
