Patients who’ve lost a considerable amount of teeth on one or both of their dental ridges can suffer from a significantly reduced ability to bite and chew, as well as the diminished confidence that can accompany severe tooth loss. For hundreds of years, and perhaps much longer, edentulous patients (those who’ve lost all of their teeth) and near-edentulous patients have found salvation in custom-designed dentures. The time-honored dental prosthetics are designed to fill out a patient’s dental ridge with a complete row of replacement teeth. Today’s dentures are crafted to closely emulate natural teeth for a more lifelike appearance as well as improved comfort and function. Using a series of innovative dental implants, dentures provided by your Park Ridge implant dentists can even eliminate the age-old dilemma of denture slippage.
How Dentures are Designed
Traditionally, dentures consist of a row of replacement teeth situated on a comfortable, custom-designed plastic base. The replacement teeth are usually made from dental porcelain, which is tinted to the exact shade of a patient’s healthy teeth. Dental porcelain is also layered to reflect light like tooth enamel, making it virtually indistinguishable from natural tooth structure. The base is secured to the patient’s dental ridge using special dental adhesives, and in the case of upper dentures, the natural suction created by the concave roof of the mouth provides additional stability.
The Science of Implant Dentures
Patients who’ve worn dentures for a while are familiar with the common problem of ill-fitting dentures. The dental prosthetics are designed to fit snugly onto a patient’s gums; however, after years of use, dentures can lose their tight grip and begin to slip. Wear and tear on the device can contribute to denture slippage, but the underlying problem lies with a shrinking jawbone resulting from jawbone deterioration following the loss of teeth roots. At our Park Ridge office, Drs. Maria and Thanasi Loukas offer implant dentures that are situated on a series of dental implants—surgically inserted prosthetic teeth roots. Replacing teeth roots helps maintain a healthy blood flow and nutrient supply to the jawbone, preventing deterioration and the denture slippage that can result from it.
About Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas:
Whether you with to improve the appearance of otherwise healthy teeth, or restore your oral health after suffering tooth loss, we can help you regain your confidence through a new and improved smile. Dr. Maria and Dr. Thanasi Loukas are highly-skilled restorative and cosmetic dentists serving the Park Ridge and surrounding Chicago communities. To schedule an appointment, call Loukas General Dentistry today at (847) 696-1919.