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5 Tricks for New Denture Wearers

If you are a new dentures wearer, do not panic; the discomfort you feel right now is not a lifelong fact. Most new dentures wearers eventually find that their new teeth feel as natural as can be, and are able to eat, speak, and smile without any discomfort or self-consciousness. But we admit that it does take time to get to that point. So here are five tricks to help you get past the initial discomfort, from your dentures specialist in Alpharetta at Old Milton Dental.

  1. Do not shy away from trying dentures adhesive.

Modern dentures are often designed to not need adhesive at all, or you may have been sent home with one specific adhesive that is not working for you. In either case, you may feel discomfort because your dentures are moving around in your mouth. Try a new adhesive; just a few drops can help your dentures stay put, making you feel more comfortable and secure.

  1. Try cheek exercises for dentures pain.

If dentures are making your cheeks hurt, try doing some basic exercises, like holding an exaggerated smile for 10 seconds at a time a few times a day.

  1. Follow the advice of your dentures specialist.

Be sure that you are following the post-extraction plan, or aftercare plan, provided to you by your dentist in Alpharetta.

  1. Sing your way to more comfortable dentures.

Many new dentures wearers say that singing along to their favorite songs throughout the day helped them to develop more natural speech much faster after getting dentures. The muscles in your jaw, and the retraining of your vocal tools such as the tongue and lips, around your new teeth, help you get used to the sensation.

  1. Be realistic in your expectations.

Even with the best dentures specialist in Alpharetta, you will not see perfection overnight. To learn more about how to succeed as a new dentures wearer, contact our office at 678-624-0370, or go online.

What to Know When Choosing Dentures or Dental Implants

Most people think that losing teeth as an adult is part of aging. However, missing teeth can cause serious health issues if not addressed by your dentist. In Alpharetta, we work with you to help you understand all the options. For many of our patients, choosing dentures or dental implants is a decision that helps them to protect their overall health. The hardest part is simply choosing which is better for their life.

Pros and Cons of Dentures

Restorative dentistry is far more advanced now than it used to be. Today’s dentures are not as uncomfortable or “fake” in appearance as they used to be. In fact, dentures can be created to look just like your original teeth, and there are many types of dentures available. This ensures a better fit and more comfort for you.

However, dentures are still not as strong as natural teeth. They can be damaged, and will most likely wear down over the years. It is very likely that you will need to replace dentures at least once or twice, and you may not like the inconvenience of taking the dentures out to clean them.

Pros and Cons of Dental Implants

When choosing dentures or dental implants, many patients hear that dental implants are permanent fixtures and are already sold. It is true that dental implants stay in the mouth permanently, with no need to remove to clean. These are designed to look, feel, and work just like your natural tooth, and you may even forget it is in there at times.

However, dental implants are not always perfect. They do require a surgical procedure, performed by your experienced dentists here in Alpharetta. They do require more healing time, and they are not as fast as dentures. It may be several weeks or months before you have your final implant.

Choose Dentures or Dental Implants Easily Today

In many cases, dental implants may not even be a valid option, making dentures the only logical choice. If you are having a hard time deciding which path you might be interested in, please contact our Alpharetta office. We can help make choosing dentures or dental implants easy and painless. Our office can be reached during business hours at 678-624-0370, or you can get in touch with us online.

Choosing Dental Implants or Dentures

Remember losing your baby teeth when you were a child, and hiding the tooth under your pillow to trade with the Tooth Fairy for money? Well, the tooth fairy does not come for adults, probably because she assumes that you are taking proper care of your teeth and ought not to be losing them. The reality is, though, that some tooth loss can reasonably be expected as you age, and when that happens, you may find yourself in the position of deciding between dental implants or dentures. Each has advantages and disadvantages.

Putting Clichés to Rest

We have all watched funny scenes in movies where someone’s dentures come loose and fly out at the most inopportune moment. We also probably think of dentures as something that rest in a glass of water on the nightstand while we sleep. The fact is, modern dentures fit very well and are unlikely to come loose and cause embarrassment. And as long as you clean them regularly, you can even wear your dentures to bed if you like. These are things that you should consider when you are deciding if it is to be dental implants or dentures.

Advantages and Disadvantages

The advantage to dental implants, of course, is that they look completely natural, and they work no differently than natural teeth because they are permanently fixed in your mouth. The downside is that they are considerably more costly than dentures. So if you are asking yourself, “Dental implants or dentures?”, then you will need to consider your budget. Also, most dental insurers will cover at least part of the cost of dentures but will not contribute toward implants.

Another thing you should consider is the fact that dentures will likely need to be replaced or adjusted every six years or so; implants will never require adjusting because they are a permanent part of your mouth. The only thing you might need to be concerned about is damage to the crown that sits on top of the implant; it is as vulnerable to damage as a natural tooth. However, it can be replaced.

Contact Us

Now you have the information you need to decide whether to choose dental implants or dentures. Contact Old Milton Dental in Alpharetta, GA for a consultation. Our phone number is 678-624-0370. You can also use the form on our Contact Us page.

Dentures Quiz

What Do You Know About Dentures Quiz

How much do you know about dentures? At Old Milton Dental in Alpharetta, GA, we know a lot about dentures of all kinds, and we want to ensure that our patients understand the many benefits and details about them before they make a decision about their dental care.

This dentures quiz will help you learn more than ever about the use of dentures – both full and partials, and ensure that you understand any pros and cons of this route. Dentures can be a wonderful long-term solution, but it is best to be sure you are fully-informed. So, let’s get to that quiz!

Dentures will replace all of the teeth in my mouth, and that means I may have to have some of my natural teeth removed. True or false?

False. Dentures come as full dentures, which are the familiar plates that do replace all of the teeth of the upper or lower jaw. However, they also come as partials, and this means that they attach to the natural teeth, using them as anchors. Partials can be used to replace a consecutive series of missing teeth, and you don’t have to have a plate that covers the entire jaw.

Wearing dentures means I have to now live on a soft diet and cannot enjoy the foods I have always eaten. True or false?

False. Our dentists always explain to patients in our Alpharetta, GA office that dentures, whether partials or full, take a bit of time to get used to, and that within a short time after they have started to use them, they will be able to rely on them to bite down on and chew most foods. In addition to learning how to use dentures, most patients will also opt to use an adhesive to stabilize them.

Getting dentures is uncomfortable, painful, and leads to long-term irritation. True or false?

Again, it is false. Dentures will, naturally, create some initial soreness because they rest on the gums, but they are designed to fit your gums specifically, and within a very short period of time, your mouth will grow accustomed to them, and you will be able to eat and speak comfortably. However, the gum tissue can change over time, and you must pay regular visits to our office in Alpharetta, GA to ensure that you get them relined or refitted as needed.

Contact Us

If you have questions about dentures, give us a call at our Alpharetta, GA office at (678) 624-0370. You can also use our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.

How to Care for Your Dentures

Care for Your Dentures

When you have dentures, it can seem like oral hygiene can come almost to an end. After all, if all of your upper or lower teeth are gone, you need only clean your mouth and remaining teeth, and that it…right? Actually, patients of Old Milton Dental in Alpharetta, GA receive a lot of useful information from our dentists about proper care for your dentures.

Dentures aftercare is a big part of the ongoing success of this solution, and it is why the patients who work with our dentists in our Alpharetta, GA office will receive a bit of training and guidance in the best ways to care for your dentures.

If you are looking for useful tips and techniques that will help you enjoy optimal oral health and the best ways to care for your dentures, consider these methods:

  • Always clean the mouth when you remove dentures. This is done with a soft-bristle brush and your choice of toothpaste. You then clean the bare gums, tongue, roof of the mouth, cheeks, and remaining natural teeth. Flossing is important too. Use gentle movements to prevent irritation, and consider rinses to get any bacteria.

In addition to caring for the mouth, dentures aftercare also includes optimal care for the dentures. Patients in our Alpharetta, GA office work with our dentists to learn just what their dentures need. To provide the best care for your dentures, you must:

  • Remove dentures after eating and rinse them to eliminate any food particles or debris. Be very careful with them, and consider always placing a pad or towel on the surface of the sink in the event that you drop them during the rinsing, as this avoids breaking or chipping.
  • Do not bend or attempt to adjust dentures. Part of dentures aftercare is to visit your dentist to have them make adjustments or repairs. Handle the dentures with great care and leave any fixes to the experts.
  • Cleanse the dentures daily. In addition to rinsing them after meals, proper care for your dentures also means brushing them with a toothbrush and proper cleansers, cleaning away any adhesives, and soaking them overnight. Most dentures should put in a special treatment as you sleep, and your dentist can suggest the proper options for your needs.
  • Get checkups. Another key to proper dentures aftercare is to go in for the same annual or twice annual checkups to have the dentures and the mouth properly examined.

With these simple steps, you can provide optimal dentures aftercare and deliver the best long-term care for your dentures and mouth.

Contact Us

If you have questions about dentures aftercare, give us a call at our Alpharetta, GA office at (678) 624-0370. You can also use our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.

5 Misconceptions About Dentures

If you are contemplating the use of dentures as a solution to your current dental situation, you should uncover the truth about them. There are many myths and misconceptions about dentures and there are also a lot of old-fashioned ideas about them too. Though they are a technology with centuries of history, they are also a dental solution that has been advanced and updated in the past decade. At Old Milton Dental in Alpharetta, GA we happily consult with patients about dentures, but we also advise them to ignore these five major myths and misconceptions about dentures.

  1. Dentures click and fall out a lot. Actually, modern dentures are so effective that you cannot distinguish them from real teeth. They are designed to fit snugly to the gums and mouth and they will never cause you the same kind of embarrassment that your grandparents may have endured when they used dentures twenty or thirty years ago.
  2. They are all the same and the only difference is the price. This is one of the most harmful myths about dentures. They are definitely not the same and going with a bargain basement price is going to give you a bargain basement outcome. Your dental health and general well-being is too important to jeopardize, so do not believe such misconceptions.
  3. I still won’t be able to eat what I want. Though many people remove dentures when eating, properly fitted and well-made dentures allow you to eat almost anything you want. Opting to consume a diet that requires only gums is going to compromise your health and one of the worst misconceptions about dentures is that they cannot be used for chewing and eating many foods.
  4. They demand the use of adhesives. Again, this is one of the prevalent misconceptions about dentures. When you work with our team, your dentures are so well fitting and properly sized that there is no need for adhesives or special products that glue them to the gums.
  5. Dentures will make me look much older. This is one of the most confusing myths about dentures. While many older people use them, they do not make you look older. In fact, it is the opposite and many with dentures look remarkably younger because the apparatus supports their jaws, facial muscles and bite.

If you have questions about other myths or misconceptions about dentures, or need to discuss your options, give us a call at (678) 624-0370. You can also use our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.

5 Reasons You Should Consider Dentures

Dentures are hardly anyone’s idea of the perfect end to a dental problem, but they are not the awkward, obvious or uncomfortable appliances that they once were. Today’s dentures are somewhat high-tech and they just cannot slip out, fall out or make any unwelcome appearances.

Apart from the fact that they are nothing like they are nothing like the old rumors, the dental team at Old Milton Dental in Alpharetta, GA also want you to consider dentures for five other reasons:

  1. They are a fast solution – No one wants to wait for a long time to fill in any gaps or missing teeth. Dentures can be made in just a matter of days and can include full dentures or partial dentures that hook to your remaining adult teeth.
  2. They are an affordable solution – While there are options such as dental implants that can replace lost teeth, you may want to consider dentures purely for their affordability. Because they are made of readily available material and are easier than ever to make, they do not break the budget.
  3. They let you eat, speak, and look like before – No matter how long you have been missing teeth, chances are you consistently wish you could do many of the things you did before you lost them. With dentures, you will be able to eat almost anything, speak like normal, and look just as you did before the loss of the teeth.
  4. They are made specifically for your mouth – When you visit one of our dentists to have full dentures or partial dentures made, they will begin the process only when your gums are back to normal. In other words, if you just had a tooth removed or had some other issue that is swelling the gums, the dentist waits for you to be back to your normal condition. Then, the custom molds are made and the dentures designed to fit snugly and comfortably to your gum.
  5. They let you have options – Maybe you are considering implants in the future? Maybe you need to save up for them? If so, your dentures keep your gums and jaw in good health while you wait. Instead of leaving decayed or damaged teeth in place, where they could do more harm than good, opting for dentures leaves all of the options open.

Consider dentures for these reasons and more. They will boost your confidence and self-esteem and allow you to enjoy life as if you did not lose a single tooth. If you have questions about them or wish to discuss your options, give us a call at (678) 624-0370. You can also use our online contact form and one of our staff will get back to you promptly.

Dentures FAQs

If you are missing just one tooth, a few teeth in a row or you have lost most or all of your teeth, you may be a good candidate for dentures available here at Old Milton Dental located in Alpharetta, GA. While many people prefer dental implants as a permanent solution for lost teeth, modern dentures provide a more affordable option. Furthermore, some patients who are not good candidates for dentures may benefit greatly from full or partial dentures. Not sure if dentures are for you? Read our last blog post to find out!

Will My Dentures Slip?

If we need to extract some teeth to fit your dentures, we will likely provide you with a set of temporary dentures while your gums heal and shrink. These should not move much, but you may experience some slipping. After your final fitting with your fitted dentures, you should really experience almost no slipping at all, especially once you’ve gotten used to wearing them and eating with them.

Can I Eat the Foods I Love?

Unlike old dentures that came unglued if you bit into an apple or ate something even slightly chewy, modern dentures allow you to eat all of the foods you enjoy. You may want to take some time and work up to more challenging foods as you grow accustomed to your dentures, but they will eventually allow you to eat whatever you like.

Do Dentures Require Special Care?

Yes; instead of brushing and flossing your teeth each night, you will take them out and gently brush them with a soft-bristled brush over the sink. You may want to rinse them first to help with cleaning them, but you will definitely want to rinse them afterward. Some people use a mild dish detergent or hand soap to wash their dentures semi-regularly, as well. After your dentures are brushed and rinsed, you will want to place them in a clean glass of water or denture solution.

Do I Need to Have All of My Teeth Extracted to Get Dentures?

No. If you only need to replace a section of teeth (or a single tooth), you can get a partial denture. If you need full dentures, you will need to have any remaining teeth removed.

To learn more about dentures and how they can improve your oral health, call us at Old Milton Dental in Alpharetta today at 678-634-0370 or use our online contact form.

Are Dentures Right For You?

If you are missing teeth and you want a permanent solution that’s natural looking and feeling, you will probably want to look into dental implants which are available at Old Milton Dental here in Alpharetta, GA. However, for some patients implants are simply not an option. If you have diabetes or heart disease, implant surgery may not be a good choice for you, or you may simply be looking for a more affordable option that will still look attractive and maintain your oral and dental health.

Denture technology has come a very long way in recent years. Unlike the dentures your grandparents used to wear, today’s dentures are perfectly fitted to your jaws and designed to minimize slipping and discomfort. They also look incredibly natural and most people will not be able to tell that you are wearing them if you don’t say something. If you do not have enough bone mass in your jaw or you cannot afford to get dental implants at this time, you may want to opt for full or partial dentures.

If you are missing most or all of your teeth, dentures may be the best solution for you to give you back your smile and your ability to chew your favorite foods in the least amount of time possible. Also, if you are only missing one or a few teeth, you may still want to opt for a partial denture to keep your healthy teeth from leaning toward the gap and causing you problems down the line.

Almost anyone who has lost teeth or needs to have them extracted can be considered a candidate for dentures, but at Old Milton Dental we would like to see you for an examination and to discuss all of your options with you before you make your final decision. This way you will know that you’re making the best choice for your smile.

Dentures are much better than they once were, but they do still require some extra care that you won’t have to do for dental implants or a bridge. Each night you will need to take your dentures out, brush them thoroughly with a soft-bristled toothbrush and soak them in denture solution or clean water until morning.

For more information about dentures and our other services, call Old Milton Dental in Alpharetta, GA today at 678-624-0370 or fill out our contact form.

Benefits of Dentures

For most patients, dental implants are the best way to deal with missing or damaged teeth. However, they’re not always right for everyone, for a couple of reasons. First, in very rare cases, a medical condition could make implant surgery problematic. More often, though, the issue is the expense. Implants can be quite costly, and they’re not always covered by insurance companies.

When implants are impractical for whatever reason, dentures can be the next best alternative. The benefits of dentures are many, the most important one being that you can get a brand new set of teeth that look natural and are comfortable when properly adjusted. If you’ve been suffering the embarrassment of missing teeth, a set of well-made dentures can help to restore your confidence.

Of course if you are having extractions preparatory to creating a set of dentures, there will be a period of adjustment while your gums shrink, but during that time, a dentist can provide you with a set of temporary dentures so you can smile to your heart’s content without fear of embarrassment. Also, this gives you a period during which you can ease in to having dentures in your mouth. Once your permanent dentures are made and fitted, they may need to be adjusted a couple of times. Ultimately, though, you’ll find that your dentures will feel almost as good as your natural teeth, and that you’ll be able to eat pretty much whatever you want, since properly fitted dentures won’t slip or slide.

Modern dentures are nothing like those of years gone by. They’re custom-created to suit your mouth perfectly. Your dentist will take impressions of your teeth and gums, and may even take x-rays too, in order to ensure that the measurements sent to the lab are completely accurate. This is so that you can get the most comfortable fit possible, and the most realistic feel.

With the advances in modern dentistry, the benefits of dentures now far outweigh the disadvantages. They’re considerably more comfortable, highly unlikely to slip, and they also look remarkably natural. You can even have your dentures tinted to match the original shade of your teeth. Or, if you were never totally happy with your smile, you can go a bit whiter if you like. Usually it’s not advisable to go too much whiter, though – brilliant white looks good on camera, but can appear unnatural in real life. Contact our office today at (678) 624-0370 to learn more about the benefits of dentures.