Dentures

Dentures can replace missing teeth lost to extractions, trauma, or poor oral hygiene. At Livewell Dental in Santa Ana, California, James Sung, DDS, and the team partner with denture labs in the area to design and manufacture both partial and complete dentures. Call the office today or book online to see if you can benefit from dentures.

What are dentures?

A denture is a removable oral appliance that replaces your permanent teeth and the surrounding tissues. 

If you’ve lost some or all of your teeth, it’s crucial to restore them with dentures or dental implants. Taking action now can reduce your risk of more serious problems like gum recession and bone loss.

What are the types of dentures?

At Livewell Dental, the team offers several types of dentures, including:

Partial dentures

If you’ve lost several permanent teeth, the team might recommend partial dentures. Partial dentures have a wire frame, pink plastic gums, and artificial teeth. The denture attaches to small metal clasps bonded to your existing teeth.

Complete dentures

If you’ve lost all of the teeth on your upper or lower dental arch, you qualify for complete dentures. A complete denture has a horseshoe-shaped base, pink plastic gums, and an entire row of artificial teeth. You apply denture glue to the base to prevent it from moving out of position.

What does getting dentures involve?

At Livewell Dental, getting dentures takes two visits spaced several weeks apart.

Your provider reviews your dental records, completes an oral exam, and takes a series of digital X-rays. If you’re missing some or all of your permanent teeth, you qualify for dentures.

Your provider takes digital impressions of your mouth using an intraoral scanner and then sends your impressions to a nearby denture lab. The lab then creates a partial or complete denture that fits perfectly.

When the denture lab finishes your custom appliance, about two weeks later, you return to Livewell Dental. The team then has you try your dentures on. They check your bite and make a series of adjustments, ensuring a comfortable fit.

How do I take care of my dentures?

Dentures are just like your teeth in that they collect plaque –– a mixture of saliva, bacteria, and food particles. Therefore, make sure to clean your dentures regularly. 

The team at Livewell Dental recommends rinsing your dentures in cool tap water after meals and snacks and brushing them with a soft bristle toothbrush once daily. You should also soak them each night in an approved cleaning solution.

Call Livewell Dental to request a denture consultation today, or click the online booking feature.