Dentures – San Ramon, CA
Refill and Rebuild Your Smile
If you’re frustrated by or feeling self-conscious about missing teeth, your dentist at Gale Ranch Family Dental can refill and rebuild your smile with dentures. This is the tried-and-true method for replacing your grin after tooth loss because it restores so much of your ability to eat and speak like you used to. Whether you require a full or partial set, there’s a solution to help! Contact our office today to request additional information or schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Gale Ranch Family Dental for Dentures?
- Flexible Financing Available
- Individualized Treatments Plans
- High-Quality, Lifelike Materials
Who is a Good Candidate for Dentures?
Before you can be fitted for dentures, you need to have a consultation visit with our team. They’ll examine your teeth and gums to determine your oral condition, as well as learn about your medical history and dental needs. If they find any areas of concern, like tooth decay or gum disease, they’ll work with you to address it before proceeding. Then, they’ll provide recommendations to help you reach your goals and replace your lost teeth.
Types of Dentures
Fortunately, dentures are a versatile solution that can be completely customized to suit your unique circumstances. Our experts will suggest one of the following types based on their findings during your examination:
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are used for mouths that have lost several teeth but still have some remaining. These are built to fill in the gaps for a seamless appearance. Made from a gum-colored acrylic base, they are often supported by metal for added strength. Yours will be specifically designed to hold the correct number of false teeth (pontics) needed to restore your grin. They anchor to your existing teeth and are easy to remove for cleaning.
Full Dentures
Full dentures are necessary when you have lost all of your natural teeth. They consist of a gum-colored acrylic base that contains an entire set of porcelain or ceramic pontics to entirely refurbish your smile. They are custom-built to fit against your gums closely to have enough suction to remain in place, though sometimes denture adhesive is needed for a firm grasp.
Implant Dentures
Implant dentures are the only type of permanent dentures because once they’re placed, they’re meant to stay. Instead of taking them out of your mouth to clean them, you’ll simply brush them and any remaining teeth as usual. This method involves surgically implanting titanium posts into your jawbone. They fuse with bone matter as they heal in a process called osseointegration which provides a firm foundation. Then, your dentures will be attached to these posts for maximum stability.
The Benefits of Dentures
There are many advantages to getting dentures at Gale Ranch Family Dental, including:
- Beautiful, realistic materials for a natural look and feel.
- Giving you back your ability to speak more easily.
- Restoring your chewing capacity so you can enjoy meals.
- Convenient removal to thoroughly clean your dentures or, if you have implant dentures, brush them while they’re in.
- Long-lasting results that can extend up to 7+ years with the right care.
Dentures FAQs
Can I Sleep with My Dentures?
Our dentists here at Gale Ranch Family Dental generally advise against sleeping in your dentures. Wearing them at night can restrict gum circulation, which can cause soft tissue irritation and potentially speed up the deterioration of your jawbone. Additionally, the moist environment under your dentures is a breeding ground for bacterial growth. As you swallow or breathe in these bacteria while you sleep, it can increase the risk of pneumonia and oral health issues. So, give your gums a break while you sleep and put them in a glass of cold water to soak overnight.
What’s the Average Age to Get Dentures?
Not every patient will need dentures in their lifetime, but tooth loss naturally becomes more prevalent with age. This skews the age range in favor of older adults. In fact, statistics show that about 66% of adults aged 40-64 have at least one missing tooth, and nearly 57% of people aged 65-74 wear some form of denture.
However, it’s important to remember that tooth loss can happen at any age from trauma, decay, or genetic conditions beyond a patient’s control. While aging increases the likelihood of needing dentures, patients of any age can benefit from them.
Is it Hard to Talk with Dentures?
Your speech may initially be slightly affected by changes in palate shape, leading to lisping or difficulty pronouncing certain words. But there’s no need to worry! Your mouth will adjust within a few weeks, especially if you’re practicing difficult words, speaking slowly, and reading aloud. If you’re having a lot of trouble in the first week or so, you can use denture adhesive to give you extra stability as you adjust to your prosthetics. Practice makes perfect!
Can I Have My Dentures Relined if They Don’t Fit?
Dentures naturally wear down over time through normal use and may need relining if they no longer fit properly. Changes in your bone structure and gumline can also prompt the need for adjustments. It’s important to see your dentist as soon as possible if you start to notice oral sores, gum irritation, or increased instability. They can examine your dentures and your teeth and determine the type of reline you need.
Soft relines use gel-like cushions to spare sensitive gums and can usually be performed at our office. However, hard relines are used to address more extensive changes and will need to be done at one of our partnered dental labs. This process can take a couple of weeks to finish, so your dentist will give you some temporary dentures to use while you wait so you’re not without teeth.