Dentures

Washington, D.C. Dentures Services

Dentures | Dentist in Washington, DC | Ralph T. Mazzuca, D.D.S. Patients often lose their teeth due to trauma, decay, injury, or circumstances requiring extraction. However, losing all or most of the teeth on an arch can prove to be a complicated issue, affecting your mouth’s bite and affecting your ability to chew, speak, and eat. Luckily, Dr. Ralph Mazzuca, D.D.S. in Washington D.C., offer dentures to replace your missing teeth quickly and easily.

Do I Need Dentures?
Dentures benefit patients missing all or most of their teeth. Some people choose for dentures for aesthetic reasons. Dentures give you a full, customizable, and natural-looking smile which can make you feel great about the way you look. Additionally, you may need dentures if you have trouble chewing or speaking due to your loose, missing, or shifting teeth.

Types Of Dentures

  • Full Dentures: Full dentures replace an entire arch of teeth. The denture itself fits into place on top of the gums, using suction to stay in place. Patients who need a full denture on both the bottom and top arches require a set of full dentures.
  • Partial Dentures : Partial dentures use any healthy teeth remaining in the mouth as anchors to hold the denture in place. The teeth fit through the denture, which allows the natural teeth to fit into place next to the prosthetics seamlessly.
  • Immediate Dentures : Patients who require extractions of their remaining natural teeth due to decay or trauma may qualify for immediate dentures. These dentures are designed before the extraction procedure and are worn by the patient immediately after extraction. The denture acts as a bandage for the fresh extraction sites and allows patients to wear their new smile home from their appointment.
  • Implant-Supported Dentures : This type of denture uses dental implants to secure a fixed denture in place. The denture remains in the mouth and does not require patients to remove it for cleaning.

How Dentures Are Made and Fitted
Making quality dentures is a blend of science and art. First, an accurate impression (mold) is made of the alveolar ridges on the top and bottom of your mouth. The base of the denture is made from this mold in a dental laboratory. Working together, the dentist and lab technician choose from among many different sizes and shapes of prosthetic teeth to re-create a natural-looking smile. When everyone is satisfied with the result, the temporary dentures are made in permanent form.

To enable normal speech and eating, it's crucial to balance your bite. This means that the upper and lower dentures come together and properly stabilize each other. The form and function of the dentures are carefully checked to ensure that they are working and fitting properly.

Caring For Dentures
Caring for your dentures will require that you remove them before going to sleep at night and soak them in denture solution while you sleep. Before replacing your dentures, brush them with a denture cleaner and denture brush to remove any food particles or bacteria from the prosthetic. Brush any remaining natural teeth and oral tissues, like your gums and tongue twice a day, and floss between each tooth at least once. Additionally, see your dentist for examinations and cleanings at the recommended two times a year.

For more information on dentures in the Washington, DC area Call Ralph T. Mazzuca, D.D.S. at (202)537-1088 today!