Removable teeth | Smith Sedation Dentistry

Why You Should Consider Dentures

Dr. Smith — Tue, 05 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Most people associate dentures with elderly individuals missing a full set of teeth, but dentures are not just for older adults. They are a viable option for people of all ages who have lost teeth due to gum disease, tooth decay, or trauma from accidents. There’s no need to endure life with gaps in your smile when dentures can restore both the function and appearance of your teeth.

The primary reasons many people opt for dentures include:

Eating – Just like natural teeth, dentures allow you to chew and eat a variety of foods, eliminating the need to rely solely on soft foods or liquids.

Speaking – Replacing missing teeth improves your ability to speak clearly and comfortably, making communication easier.

Smiling – Dentures can boost your self-confidence, allowing you to smile and laugh without hesitation. They also help restore fullness to your cheeks and may give you a more youthful appearance.

When you first get dentures, it’s normal for them to feel unfamiliar. It may take time to adjust, especially when learning to speak and eat with them. Be patient during this adjustment period, but if discomfort persists, it’s important to visit your dentist to ensure proper fit and make any necessary adjustments.

Take the first step towards optimal oral hygiene. Reserve your dental appointment at our Fresno dental office now and experience personalized care.

A Modern Alternative to Dentures and Bridges

Dr. Smith — Tue, 06 Jan 2026 00:00:00 +0000

once the best available for restoring functionality and appearance, modern advancements in dental technology have introduced dental implants, which offer a superior alternative. One of the primary limitations of dentures and bridges is that they often fall short of mimicking the natural look and feel of real teeth. Chewing tougher foods can also be challenging. Dental implants, however, deliver exceptional results by closely replicating the appearance, strength, and performance of natural teeth.

Dental implants are crafted from titanium, a lightweight yet durable material. These implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone, where they act as secure anchors for replacement teeth. After the healing process is complete, custom crowns are attached to the implants, providing a seamless solution for missing teeth. A single implant can support multiple crowns, allowing flexibility in restoring several teeth at once.

Because dental implants are designed to resemble natural teeth in both appearance and function, they are virtually indistinguishable from your original teeth. They integrate securely with the jawbone, giving you the confidence to eat, chew, and smile freely without concern. Unlike bridges, which rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants are self-sufficient and do not place unnecessary strain on adjacent teeth. This reduces the risk of damage to healthy teeth while offering a long-lasting and comfortable solution.

With dental implants, you can achieve a functional, natural-looking smile that improves your quality of life, helping you enjoy your favorite foods and smile with confidence.

Do not let another day go by without taking care of your dental needs. Request an appointment now at our Fresno dental office!

Are You a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Dr. Smith — Wed, 02 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you have lost all of your teeth or just a few, you are probably a good candidate for dentures. Dentures, also known as removable prosthodontics, are used for the dental restoration or replacement of missing or broken teeth. You may want to consider dentures if any of the following apply to your situation:

You have very few remaining teeth and they are in poor condition.
You have suffered bone loss in your mouth so severe it precludes you from considering dental implants.
You have advanced gum disease that has resulted in the loss of multiple teeth.
You have lost many teeth, and your remaining teeth are suffering from decay and receding gums.
You are committed to practicing excellent oral hygiene in order to take good care of your dentures.

You may not be a good candidate for dentures if any of the following apply:

You are a young patient whose jawbone has not fully developed.
You grind or clench your teeth.
You have a sensitive gag reflex.
You are a smoker.

If you feel you are a good candidate for dentures, your dentist will evaluate the health of your teeth and gums and determine if full or partial dentures are the best choice for you. There are many factors to consider when having dentures placed, and your dental professional can help you make a decision that fits your needs and lifestyle. If you wish to regain oral functionality and improve your smile, dentures may be your answer to once again enjoying a full set of beautiful, natural looking teeth.

Ready to transform your smile? Schedule your appointment today at our Fresno dental office.

How Dental Implants Changed Dentures Forever

Dr. Smith — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

If you’ve been wearing dentures for a while, you may have some complaints. They might fit poorly and shift or click when you talk or eat. Poor fit can lead to discomfort and sores in the mouth that worsen over time, or they can collect food underneath them, leading to bad breath.

If this sounds familiar to you, there might be alternatives for you. One of the newest developments in dentures is the pairing of standard dentures with dental implants. The dental implants are placed directly into your jawbone, providing the kind of stability only previously offered by natural teeth. Dentures fixed in the mouth with dental implants become something new: hybrid dentures.

Dentures that utilize dental implants as their anchors are very stable. They enable denture wearers to enjoy foods previously denied them, such as crisp, healthy foods or chewy cuts of meat. Eliminating the food restrictions present for many denture wearers allows them to eat a wider variety of foods, helping to reduce the risk of poor nutrition and the poor health associated with it, including digestion difficulties.

Because of this increased stability, the denture itself can be made smaller. A standard denture covers the roof of the mouth completely, inhibiting the taste and texture of foods. A denture designed around dental implants, however, has an open roof and facilitates a greater enjoyment of foods of all kinds, as well as a more natural feel for your tongue.

Dental implants also stimulate bone by mimicking natural tooth roots. This stimulation allows the bone to continue to be strong and alive, whereas the bones of the face can begin to shrink once a tooth has been extracted. This bone shrinkage leads directly to poor denture fit. Dental implants used with dentures avoid this issue.

If you are a denture wearer and you’d like to see some changes in how your dentures fit, talk to your dentist to see how using dental implants can improve your denture experience.

Do not wait any longer. Book your appointment now and achieve the smile you have always wanted. Dr. Smith is accepting new patients from Fresno and the surrounding area.

Are You a Good Candidate for Dentures?

Dr. Smith — Fri, 30 Sep 2022 00:00:00 +0000

You have very few remaining teeth and they are in poor condition.
You have suffered bone loss in your mouth so severe it precludes you from considering dental implants.
You have advanced gum disease that has resulted in the loss of multiple teeth.
You have lost many teeth, and your remaining teeth are suffering from decay and receding gums.
You are committed to practicing excellent oral hygiene in order to take good care of your dentures.

You may not be a good candidate for dentures if any of the following apply:

You are a young patient whose jawbone has not fully developed.
You grind or clench your teeth.
You have a sensitive gag reflex.
You are a smoker.

If you live in the Fresno area contact us today

How Dental Implants Changed Dentures Forever

Dr. Smith — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 00:00:00 +0000

If you are a denture wearer and you’d like to see some changes in how your dentures fit, talk to your dentist to see how using dental implants can improve your denture experience.

Schedule your appointment at our Fresno dental office

Reasons to Consider Dentures

Dr. Smith — Fri, 16 Jul 2021 00:00:00 +0000

Most of the time, the idea of dentures brings to mind elderly people who are missing a mouthful of teeth. The truth is that dentures are not just for old folks, but for people of all ages who have lost teeth for some reason. Gum disease, tooth decay, and trauma from an accident are all common reasons for tooth loss. There is no need to suffer through life with gaps in your smile, when you can opt for dentures to restore both appearance and function.

The main reasons that many people consider getting dentures include:

Eating – your teeth help you to chew and eat food. Dentures serve the same purpose, allowing you to eat a normal diet without having to stick only to soft foods or liquids.
Speaking – when the gaps in your smile have been filled, your ability to speak more clearly and easily is improved.
Smiling – replacing missing teeth gives you back your self-confidence to smile and laugh again. You will be proud of your new smile and be willing to display it more often. Also, your cheeks will have a fuller look and your appearance may look younger.

When you get dentures, expect that it may take some time to get used to them. They may feel strange at first, and you should be patient while you learn to talk and eat with them. Time will help you adjust to the dentures, but if discomfort lingers you should visit your dentist to make sure the fit is correct and no adjustments are necessary.

If you need a dentist in Fresno contact us today

Enjoy Food Again With Hybrid Dentures

Dr. Smith — Fri, 21 May 2021 00:00:00 +0000

If you are currently a denture wearer, you know that dentures can be problematic when it comes to eating a wide variety of foods, especially those foods with a very crunchy or chewy texture. Dentures can click or move when you are eating, or food debris can collect underneath, leading to poor fit and irritation of the soft palate and gums. Over time, if your dentures aren’t properly cleaned, this can lead to an odor in the dentures that causes bad breath for the wearer.

Issues with stability and retention of standard dentures mean that many wearers have food restrictions, including healthful and fresh foods they previously enjoyed with their healthy natural teeth. Some of the most nutritious foods available are problematic for denture wearers, making chewing difficult. Because so much of the digestion process begins in the mouth with the mastication of food, poorly chewed food can cause digestion difficulties and eventually be a factor in overall poor health.

Standard dentures can also affect the enjoyment of eating the foods that are allowed. They can be bulky, especially on the roof of the mouth, taking away a large part of savoring the texture and flavor of foods.

Hybrid dentures address all of these issues. They are crafted so that the roof of the mouth remains completely open and uncovered. Texture and flavor are enhanced over typical dentures. Hybrid dentures are affixed firmly with four or more dental implants functioning as anchors. These denture anchors are extremely secure and stable, giving the wearer the confidence to eat, drink, and speak.

Talk to your dentist today to see if hybrid dentures can improve your life. Experience the positive effects of hybrid dentures as your put your best smile forward with confidence that it looks and functions virtually identically to your natural teeth and gums.

If you need a dentist in Fresno contact us today

What you Need to Know about Permanent Dentures

Dr. Smith — Fri, 24 Jul 2020 00:00:00 +0000

Dentures have been around a long time as a way to restore smiles plagued by missing teeth. They provide a solution for people who want to smile, talk, and eat as normally as possible. Unfortunately, removable dentures aren’t without issues. They can become loose or shift, making it uncomfortable to eat and talk. Messy denture adhesives are bothersome and ineffective for some patients. Therefore, advancements in dental technology have developed the option of permanent dentures.

What are permanent dentures?

Permanent, or fixed, dentures are suitable for patients missing one, two, or more teeth. The appliance is made up of a row of crowns or artificial teeth, which are connected together and the framework is supported by dental implants. The implants act like natural tooth roots, and the permanent dentures create a bite similar to natural teeth.

What are the benefits?

Fixed dentures definitely offers some advantages to removable ones. The need for messy adhesives is eliminated, and you don’t have to worry about loose or ill-fitting dentures affecting you. The force of your bite is also improved, so you can eat all kinds of foods without concern. Because a permanent upper denture doesn’t cover the roof of your mouth, your ability to taste and enjoy food is not sacrificed. This kind of denture stays in place for normal oral hygiene, so there are no special cleaning or soaking requirements. If properly maintained, permanent dentures can last for many years or even a lifetime.

Are there any disadvantages?

Permanent dentures are susceptible to oral problems like infection or inflammation because they are not removable. Also, it is possible that the crowns may require replacement in 10 to 15 years.

If you need a dentist in Fresno contact us today

Dental Implants: An Alternative to Dentures and Bridges

Dr. Smith — Fri, 14 Feb 2020 00:00:00 +0000

In the past, replacing lost teeth meant getting dentures or bridges. Even though these offered the best way at the time to restore your mouth’s appearance and function, technology has improved through the development of dental implants. The main drawbacks of bridges and dentures is that they do not feel or look just like real teeth, and it is difficult to chew tough foods. The advantage of implants is that they look and perform so well that you can’t even tell they are not your natural teeth.

Made from titanium, dental implants are screws that are surgically placed directly into your jawbone. They are light and malleable, but durable and strong. The titanium screws are implanted into your jawbone and given time to heal. Once healing is complete, one or multiple crowns are placed on top of the implant to recreate your missing teeth. One implant can hold more than one screw, so it is possible to attach as many crowns as needed to replace your missing teeth.

Dental implants look so much like real teeth that others won’t even be able to tell that you have any artificial teeth. You might even forget about it yourself, as they feel real as well. Since the implants are securely placed in your jaw, they are as strong as real teeth and you are able to chew and bite anything that you would normally eat. Another great thing about implants is that they don’t impact any of your adjacent healthy teeth. While bridges and dentures can sometimes damage neighboring teeth because those teeth are necessary for support, implants avoid this problem. You are left with a fully restored and comfortable smile.

We treat patients from Fresno and the surrounding area