You need extensive tooth replacement. You feel you are faced with an “either/or” choice: dentures or dental implants. Dr. Douglas Baldwin of Foundation Dental Solutions in Arlington will guide you through the decision so your smile is strong, beautiful and long-lasting.
Dentures in Arlington
What are dentures? If this sounds like too basic a question to ask, it’s really not. Your Arlington dentist offers several dentures choices, depending on patient need and preference. All are crafted from high quality and lifelike acrylic, combined with lightweight, biocompatible metals as needed. Here are the common types of dentures:
- Partial dentures replace one or more teeth. The artificial, or pontic, teeth are mounted on a light metal frame and clip to adjoining natural teeth with clasps. Think of a partial denture as a customized puzzle piece that fills the smile gaps on the top or bottom arch.
- Full dentures replace an entire arch of teeth. Custom-fabricated from lifelike acrylic according to oral impressions, conventional full dentures stay in place with the mouth’s own suction when properly fitted.
- Immediate dentures are full dentures placed right after extraction. Patients leave the office with complete smiles. However, this type of denture must be relined or replaced after the gums and bone have healed and receded.
- Conventional dentures are full dentures placed after sutured gum tissue is fully healed. Typically, these dentures require little adjustment for fit.
Whatever the type of denture, patients enjoy better chewing, speech and smile aesthetics. Dentures also normalize overall facial appearance and support skin and musculature for a more youthful look. All types of dentures last about 10 years with careful at-home hygiene and check-ups at Foundation Dental Solutions.
Dental Implants in Arlington
Besides dentures, Dr. Baldwin offers modern dental implants, a great choice to replace one, two or even an entire arch of teeth. Dental implants have been around for decades, but have gained recent popularity as more dentists develop expertise in the implant process. Dr. Baldwin has a high level of training and experience in placing these marvelous tooth replacements. He has a Fellowship in Implantology from the California Implant Institute and other advanced credentials.
The dental implant offers patients who are missing teeth unparalleled stability, aesthetics and longevity. Likely to be the last tooth replacement an individual will need, the dental implant boasts a success rate of up to 98 percent, according to the American Association of Endodontists.
What exactly is a dental implant? Basically, this prosthetic is an artificial tooth from root to crown. Made from highly biocompatible titanium, the implant screw resides in the jaw, helping retain the natural size and density of both bone and gum tissue. After some weeks to months of healing time, the dentist bonds an extension post and porcelain crown on the single-tooth implant. Patients say their implants look, feel and act just like natural teeth.
Because dental implants bond to bone through a process called osseointegration, healthy dental patients may receive multiple implants to support larger prosthetics such as fixed bridgework, partial dentures or even full dentures. Dr. Baldwin uses Cone Beam CT scanning to get a precise, three-dimensional image of the individual’s mouth, allowing him the best possible implant placement.
So Which is For You?
Contact Foundation Dental Solutions for a restorative dentistry consultation with Dr. Douglas Baldwin. Together, you and the doctor will arrive at a decision appropriate for your particular situation. Enjoy better oral health and a great smile starting now!