Alafaya Center for Cosmetic and Family Dentistry

Dentures and Partials

We fit dentures to replace all or some of the teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw. Dentures improve your confidence when you smile, as well as the clarity of your speech and your ability to chew. Modern dentures provide a firm hold and natural appearance to ensure maximum comfort and function.  We have a long standing relationship with a denture laboratory, that customs crafts appliances for our patients.  There are many different types of removable dentures available and after a short consultation we will advise the best solution for you.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures can be either “conventional” or “immediate.” Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about 8 to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.

Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore a disadvantage of immediate dentures compared with conventional dentures is that they require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process and generally should only be considered a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.

Partial Dentures

A removable partial denture usually consists of teeth attached to a gum-colored plastic base on a metal framework. The metal framework typically has clasps that hook onto remaining teeth and hold it in place.  Partial dentures can be used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw.  Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position.

Precision partials

There are several variations of removable partial dentures. A precision partial denture is removable that has internal attachments rather than metal clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns. These partials tend to be more stable than a traditional metal clasped partial. Because it has no metal clasps it is a more natural-looking appliance. Crowns are fabricated with a special attachment extending off off the back of it. The precision partial is outfitted with “snaps” that go over the crown attachment, eliminating the need for metal clasps. Your ne While you Dr. Michaelson will do a thorough evaluation of your remaining teeth and recommend the best removable appliance for you.

Valplast Partials

Valplast® Flexible Partials have a more aesthetic look than a traditional metal clasped partial. Flexibility, combined with strength provide comfort and a great appearance. In the past, removable partial dentures were only made with metal alloys and acrylic resins. Today Valplast® is available to provide patients with comfortable, lightweight and metal free partial dentures. Valplast® partials are also highly aesthetic and virtually invisible so nobody has to know that you are missing any of your natural teeth.

While the cost is often higher than a partial made with visible metal clasps, the results of the flexible partial are beautiful, and patients that have a Valplast® partial have expressed confidence talking, eating, and most importantly: smiling.

Denture with 4 Mini-Implants

Dental implant therapy has been one of the most significant advances in dentistry of the past twenty-five years. Tens of thousands are grateful and bear witness to the benefits derived from the opportunity to obtain a replacement for lost teeth that restores their smiles and poise. Several different types of implants and restorations are available. The choice depends upon the amount of bone available, the patient’s general history, and restorative preference.

The computer and medical worlds work in tandem to develop smaller and smaller components. In a similar fashion, smaller version of the dental implant has been successfully utilized in selected cases. These mini implants enable Dr. Michaelson to provide greater denture stability for those patients who cannot withstand the rigors of conventional implant surgery, do not have enough bone to allow for full-sized implant placement, or are in on-going therapy from one prosthetic system to another.

What are Mini-Implants?

The Mini-Implant system consists of a miniature titanium implant that acts like the root of your tooth and a retaining fixture that is incorporated into the base of your denture. The head of the implant is shaped like a ball, and the retaining fixture acts like a socket that contains a rubber O-ring. The O-ring snaps over the ball when the denture is seated and holds the denture at a predetermined level of force. When seated, the denture gently rests on the gum tissue. The implant fixtures allow for micro-mobility while withstanding natural lifting forces.

How Are Mini-Implants Placed?

Placement of the implants is accomplished quickly and easily in a process performed by Dr. Michaelson with local anesthesia. Using a precise, controlled, minimally invasive surgical technique, mini-implants are placed into the upper or lower jaw.  The heads of the implants protrude from the gum tissue and provide a strong, solid foundation for securing your dentures. This is usually a one-step procedure that doesn’t involve sutures or months and months of recuperating.

What Will My First Day Be Like?

Leave the denture in place until bedtime. You should not experience any excessive bleeding. There will be some mild discomfort, but this should be minimal and controlled by the pain medication you have been given. The denture should feel secure. You may even eat as soon as you wish to. Avoid excessively hard or sticky foods for a period recommended by Dr. Michaelson. Upon removing the denture, rinse your mouth with an antiseptic mouthwash and clean around each implant fixture with a cotton swab and toothpaste. Use a cotton swab for three days. After that, use your toothbrush that has been specifically designed to clean your implants and gently stimulate the surrounding gum tissue.

What about Care & Maintenance?

You must brush and clean the ball of the implants as if they were your natural teeth. As with natural teeth, food and bacterial debris (plaque) must be removed after meals. If not removed, the plaque will cause inflammation of the gums and can be forced into the O-ring fixtures, causing improper seating and loss of retention. The O-ring fixtures must also be cleaned out.
It will also be important to visit the office every 6 months to have your implants and dentures professionally cleaned. Dr. Michaelson will perform a full examination with xrays once a year. He will reevaluate the condition of the implants, your gums, and the wear on the O-ring. Typically the O-rings will need to be replaced once a year.

Are There Alternatives to Dentures?

Yes, dental implants can be used to support permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. The cost is usually greater, but the implants and bridges more closely resemble the feel of real teeth. Dental implants are becoming the alternative to dentures but not everyone is a candidate for implants. Visit us for a consult and we will let you know if dental implants would help you.

Click here to learn more about dental implants.