A Nightmare Come True!

Have you ever had a dream in which your teeth inexplicably began falling out? While this may sound like an odd question to some, according to numerous oneirological case studies (the scientific study of dreams) a dream in which a person begins losing their teeth is actually one of the most common dreams (or nightmares) a person can experience. While this research may lead many psychologists and data analysts to draw their own conclusions, clearly there’s no denying that out teeth are very important to us and losing them would essentially be a nightmare come true!

While you may be counting your lucky stars that this hasn’t happened to you, this scenario has been all too real for many people in the past, and while seemingly farfetched, it might just be a greater possibility than you think.

Tooth replacements ARE necessary!

So why do teeth break? And just why exactly are tooth replacements so darn necessary? If this is what you find yourself wondering, please allow us to explain!

While your teeth may be tough and beautiful, those gorgeous pearly whites of yours have a very important and very difficult purpose. Tasked with the demanding job of breaking down food partials for safe and easy consumption, your teeth unquestionably take one heck of a beating! Although receiving the required amount of dental care and practicing proper oral hygiene play a major role in sustaining the lifespan of your teeth, sometimes the wear and tear is just too much. Therefore, once weakened after years of absorbing punishment, your teeth become increasingly susceptible to incurring damage, from hard or crunchy food products. If a tooth suffers severe damage or is ultimately lost, then having that tooth replaced is necessary if one wishes to maintain their future oral health and prevent further damage from occurring.

Dentures and Partials: What to know

When words like dentures and partials are mentioned, it often doesn’t elicit the most positive reaction. While it’s certainly no secret that dentures and partials are typically associated with the elderly, and may not conjure up the most pleasant images, it should be noted that they are also not exactly what they are perceived to be. The preconceived notion that dentures and partials are removable sets of false teeth for elderly people who simply don’t have any teeth left is not entirely true. As there are in fact several different variations of these devices, that are used by all sorts of people for numerous reasons.

Partial Denture:

Contrasting to the stereotypical idea of dentures, the partial denture is a plate of prostatic dentures that is custom made for you, to be suited to your replacement needs. This plate-like device can be used to replace one or several teeth and may be used to provide prosthetic teeth that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. Economically friendly and easy to maintain, the partial is fitted to attach to your natural tooth or dental implant and can be easily adjusted to maximize its effectiveness.

Additionally, the device may also vary depending on the needs of the patient and may come in the form of an RPD or Fixed Bridge.

The RPD (removable partial denture) is designed to be removed if necessary and can easily be snapped back into place when desired.
A fixed partial denture or fixed bridge; however, cannot be removed once put in place and may better resemble natural teeth due to their sedentary nature.

Full Denture:

Unlike the before mentioned partial, a full or complete denture does somewhat resemble the stereotypical dentures of the past; however, thanks to innovative 21^st century technology, the sleek new dentures of today are by far superior to their clunky and cumbersome predecessors. A composite of plastic and acrylic based material, the modern full set of dentures is molded to fit seamlessly to the roof of your mouth or lower jaw (or both) for a smooth and comfortable fit. As its name implies, the full denture is designed for individuals who no longer have their natural teeth and require extensive replacements.

Have no fear!

Although we may often take them for granted, and occasionally forget to treat them with the care they deserve, there’s no denying that our teeth are very important to us and losing them might seem like a nightmarish scenario. However, if you do ever find yourself in such a situation, please remember that it is necessary to get any missing teeth replaced, and you do have great replacement solutions, like dentures and partials, that can be made available to you upon your request.

Remember if one tooth is lost, then others are likely to follow! Don’t let this happen, come see us at Overland Park Dentistry so that we may help put an end to your nightmare once and for all!

Dr. Charles R. Kimes, DDS and his expert team at Overland Park Dentistry look forward to having the opportunity to care for you and your family with any preventative, restorative or cosmetic dental needs you or your family may have. To schedule your dental appointment with your Overland Park Dentist, contact us at our south Overland Park office at (913) 647-8700 or our north Overland Park office at (913) 341-2380.

Tooth Replacement: A Nightmare Come True!

Having a strange or sometimes vivid dream, is something most people experience from time to time. Although dreams often vary from person to person, one of the most common dreams (or nightmares) revolves around losing one’s teeth. Unfortunately for some people however, this nightmare has ended up coming true as they have sustained a severely chipped or damaged tooth, and are now in need of a tooth replacement. However despite this unfortunate and often untimely problem, there are several great tooth replacement options available, if you should find yourself in such a predicament.

Reasons for tooth replacement

While obviously your teeth are very tough, did you know that your teeth are in fact harder than any bone in your entire body! To some this may come as a surprise. To others it makes a great deal of sense, as your teeth have the extremely important task of breaking down your food for consumption. Unfortunately even as tough as your teeth are, there are many factors such as hard foods, acidic substances, or simply neglect and old age, that can potentially damage or completely destroy your teeth. Therefore it is necessary to replace a tooth if damage or decay has begun to occur.

Tooth replacement can be accomplished three different ways depending on the needs of the patient, each of which are capable of providing an effective long-term solution for the user.

Tooth Replacement Options: The Big Three

There are three primary options available when having one or more teeth replaced; each of these options is designed to accommodate different circumstances surrounding the patient’s overall replacement needs. Each of the three tooth replacement options presents certain advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered upon making one’s section.

Option 1: Removable Partial

Often considered the most economical of the replacement options, the removable partial denture or RPD, is a removable row of porcelain dentures, as its name implies. A RPD can be used both as functional teeth and to serve aesthetic purposes. Despite the RPD’s relative popularity due to it being the least expensive of the options, it is the most accommodating for older individuals who may need several teeth replaced. However, it does present certain drawbacks. Over the years there have been quite a few instances of RPD’s getting lost or going missing, particularly among elderly patients or folks on vacation, thus leading some to seek a more secure solution.

Option 2: Fixed Bridge

A bridge, or sometimes called fixed partial denture, is much like the removable partial. It’s a row of artificial porcelain teeth, fixated within the patient’s mouth. However the differences between an RPD and a bridge are not only the fact that the bridge is fixed (or non-removable) but also that the dental bridge provides greater comfort while chewing, requires less cleaning, and is as convincing as actual teeth. Although more expensive than the RPD, the bridge is in many ways superior overall, in addition to requiring little time to be created.

Option 3: Dental Implant

The final and perhaps most sought after tooth replacement option is the dental implant. As opposed to the two previous options, the dental implant is more like an actual tooth that has been specifically created to replace your old one. This ceramic, custom-made tooth is strategically placed onto the jawbone of the patient, so that it may slowly be enveloped by the bone and gums over time becoming the permanent replacement for the missing tooth. Although dental implants are more expensive than the previously mentioned options, they require the least amount of maintenance and attention as the others, in addition to providing the authentic look and feel as a natural tooth.

Fill in the gap

Although your teeth are tough and can last a very long time, if time has taken its toll and caused damage or decay, the three above-mentioned tooth replacement options are certainly available to replace your broken teeth, and end your nightmare once and for all.

Dr. Charles R. Kimes, DDS and his expert team at Overland Park Dentistry look forward to having the opportunity to help you if you end up with a missing tooth! Or with any preventative, restorative or cosmetic needs you or your family may have. To schedule a dental appointment, contact us at our south Overland Park office at (913) 647-8700 or our north Overland Park office at (913) 341-2380.

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Dentures and Partials: A tooth replacement option to consider