Milford, Ct Dentist Explains Dentures &Amp; Alternatives

Submitted by: Eileen Greete

Dr. Walter Kostrzewski of Comfortable Care Dentistry is an experienced dentist who can help you to restore your smile if you suffer from missing teeth. We offer dentures to our patients who are missing teeth in the form of complete dentures and partial dentures. Complete dentures are for patients who are missing all of their teeth and partials are for patients who are only missing some teeth. We can place dentures after irreparable teeth have been removed (tooth extraction) and the gum tissue has healed. This process usually takes about three to four months and a temporary denture can be made while your gums heal.

Are Dentures Covered by Dental Insurance?

Because dentures are a restorative dentistry procedure they are generally covered by dental insurance. You will have to contact your individual insurance provider to see the specific costs they will cover. We recommend you do this before you elect to get dentures placed so that you are not surprised by any miscellaneous costs.

Can I Continue to Eat Whatever Foods I Like?

The short of the answer to this question is no. Dentures wearers are advised to avoid certain foods such as foods that are extremely sticky or hard. Chewing gum, sharp-edged bones, and toothpicks are all items denture-wearers should avoid.

Denture Alternatives

Dental implants are quickly becoming the most popular alternative to dentures because they most closely replace missing teeth. Dr. Kostrzewski is trained to place dental implants in Connecticut and can advise you if you are eligible for this type of treatment. The advantages to dental implants are that they form a permanent bond to your jaw bone through a process called osseointegration and the dental crowns that are custom-made for your teeth look and feel completely natural. The downside to dental implants is that they are more expensive than dentures and may not be available to all patients.

Why Dental Implants Help Maintain Facial Structure From Lost Teeth

Many dental patients are aware of some of the health issues that can arise from the loss of teeth including impaired speech, loss of ability to chew, and a decrease in nutrition. But an important factor that Comfortable Care Dentistry wants to bring attention to regarding tooth loss is the deterioration of bone where the teeth once lied. Although the appearance of a lost tooth can have significant psychological and social consequences it is the bone that supports the teeth that can have serious functional, health, and aesthetic affects that needs to be addressed quickly.

When a tooth is lost the lack of stimulation in the alveolar bone causes it to diminish, resulting in more future health and social issues. Within the first year of tooth loss the bone can decrease 25% in width and up to four millimeters in height in the next few years. This can result in the loss of more teeth, the impairment of the ability to chew and speak, the loss of function, and results in a more aged look as the aesthetics of the face can change as well.

Teeth are usually lost due to old age, trauma, or poor dental care that causes them to decay. The longer a patient waits to take measures to replace the tooth, the more of a chance they have at suffering the consequences associated with bone loss. There are several options to replace missing teeth including dental bridges, dentures, and dental implants. The most common method of replacing teeth was the fixed partial denture, or fixed bridge. A fixed bridge is attached to the two surrounding healthy teeth and a prosthesis is placed in the middle to replace the missing tooth. Current research has shown that although the fixed bridge may help to replace a missing tooth, the surrounding teeth are more susceptible to tooth decay, root canal problems, and gum disease.

The dental implant is now the most highly recommended tooth replacement procedure as it is serves to replace missing teeth and avoids debilitating bone loss. The dental implant replaces the tooth s root by a process called osseointegration where the implant fuses with the jawbone and creates a restoration that is natural looking and feeling.

About the Author: Walter Kostrzewski, DMD Smile Designer founded Comfortable Care Dentistry in Milford, Connecticut in 1996. For more information about “Dr. K”, please visit his website

walterkostrzewski.org

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