Dentures

More than 10% of Americans are missing all of their teeth. If you are missing most or all of your teeth, dentures can help. You probably have some common concerns. How will they look and feel? Will they fit well? Will you ever adjust to wearing them? We will provide you with dentures that look natural, are comfortable, and improve your quality of life.

Complete Dentures

Removable complete dentures are used when all of your teeth are missing. They can be used to replace upper or lower teeth; or both. The oral appliance is made of dental resin, and at times, metal is used in the base.

The Process

Each case varies, but the basic steps are listed below.

1. Your natural teeth and your gums will be examined. Your gums need to be healthy first. Any issues with periodontal (gum) disease will be addressed before you receive your oral appliance.
2. We'll listen closely to your preferences to help you make decisions about the look of your new smile. When carefully chosen, the shape, size, and color of the denture teeth and gums can complement your skin tone and facial features and produce natural-looking results.
3. Impressions of your upper and lower jaws will be taken to ensure proper fit. The impressions will be sent to a dental laboratory to make your oral appliance.
4. Any remaining teeth you have will be removed. Time is allowed for your gums and jawbone to heal. Meanwhile, you will wear a temporary denture. After the healing period, additional impressions of your mouth may be taken to ensure the best fit.
5. A wax model of your dentures will be made to ensure the teeth and gums look exactly as you want. If you have any reservations about the wax model, let us know. Adjustments will be made until you have the smile you want.
6. When your permanent dentures are ready, you will be able to try them on and wear them until your next visit. This gives you time to see how they look and feel.
7. When you return to our office, we will check your dentures for look and function. If there is anything about them that concerns you, let us know. It takes several weeks to get used to wearing them, but we'll address your concerns make adjustments as needed.

The Adjustment Period

It will take a few weeks for you to get used to speaking and eating with dentures. As you adjust, your dentist may recommend using adhesive to improve stability. Chewing gum may stick to the appliance, so it may be best to avoid it.

How to Care for Your Dentures

It's important to take good care of your dentures daily. They are softer than natural teeth and should be treated with care. Use a soft-bristle toothbrush and non-abrasive paste to clean them. Keep your natural gums clean, too.

Be certain to brush thoroughly, but not aggressively, to remove bacteria-causing debris, which promotes gum disease. Cleansing tablets made specifically for dentures will help keep them clean. Remove them at night while you sleep. Store them in clean water.

If you take good care of your dentures and keep your regularly scheduled appointments for examinations and checkups, they can last five to eight years.

Denture repairs

Over time, the fit of your denture will loosen. The base will need to be adjusted, or relined, but don't attempt to do it yourself. You may damage the appliance in the process and make it uncomfortable to wear. If there are any problems or adjustments that need to be made, call us. As your dentist repairs the denture, he or she will ensure the adjustments won't irritate your gums or make them sore.

Stabilizing Your Dentures

Tooth roots stimulate the jawbone and keep it intact. When your teeth are missing, your jawbone begins to shrink. Over time, this makes it more difficult to keep a denture in place. Some patients choose to stabilize their dentures with dental implants. As few as two implants can be used, but the more implants you have, the stability will improve. Dental implants improve chewing efficiency and limit jawbone shrinkage.

Partial Denture

A partial denture is used to replace one or more missing teeth. The base is gum colored and may include metal for extra support. Acrylic teeth that match the color of your natural teeth are embedded in the base. It is kept in place with clasps that are secured onto your natural teeth. A partial denture should be removed and cleaned daily. If you take good care of it, it can last about five years.

If you are missing some or all of your teeth, dentures can improve your appearance, confidence, and quality of life. Schedule an appointment to discuss your options

Teeth Whitening Options (In-Office)

Here at Dr. Donna F. Helton, DDS PC we offer a variety of teeth whitening options and address many patient concerns such as sensitivity to whitening agents, time commitment and technology. The newest materials create less sensitivity for patients, while we offer a number of options for gradual whitening or a quicker result. Lastly, Donna F. Helton, DDS PC has an in-office whitening system .

At-Home Teeth Whitening

We can also provide an at-home whitening program for whitening your teeth. While over-the-counter whitening systems are available, let the professionals at Donna F. Helton, DDS PC ensure professional, safe results by overseeing your teeth whitening program.

Talk to us today about our whitening specials, and you can have the bright, beautiful smile you've always wanted.

Crowns

A dental crown, often referred to as a cap, protects and restores a tooth that is worn down, chipped, or broken. It covers and protects the entire tooth from the gumline to the biting surface. A tooth can be restored by just about any dentist, but Donna F. Helton, DDS, PC provides customized crowns. Your tooth will be beautifully restored to match the color, characteristics, and gloss of your natural teeth. The results will amaze you.

We Provide Crowns that Look Completely Natural

Low-grade porcelain can make dental crowns look bulky and pasty, and they can be difficult to shape. The crowns are often more rounded at the center and edges than natural teeth.

Our dentist uses top-grade porcelain to ensure it can be accurately sculpted to match the characteristics of your natural teeth. The porcelain is very strong and durable, and will protect your worn or broken teeth, but it also has the translucence of natural teeth. You will love the highly aesthetic results. Today's top-quality porcelain can be blended to match any tooth, regardless of the color, shape, translucence, or age of your natural teeth.

Advantages of Porcelain Restorations

• Light easily passes through the porcelain, so the color and translucence can be tailored to match your natural teeth.
• They are durable and strong, and will provide maximum protection for worn or broken teeth.
• All-porcelain crowns do not contain metal. Unlike porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns, over time, a dark line will not appear at your gumline.
• You won't experience sensitivity to heat and cold, because the crowns don't contain metal.

Common Uses for Crowns

• Dental bridge - A dental bridge is used to replace a missing tooth. A dental crown is placed over the empty space, but it is supported by the adjacent teeth, and those teeth must be also crowned.
• Excessive wear - Worn teeth need to be protected to prevent them from fractures or breaks. Crowns provide the needed protection.
• Tooth discoloration - Some types of discoloration cannot be removed with teeth bleaching. Crowns provide a beautiful, but more affordable option than porcelain veneers.
• Broken or badly decayed teeth - If a tooth is badly broken, it doesn't necessarily have to be replaced. It is possible to restore it. After treatment, a tooth that was badly decayed or that needed a root canal treatment is further protected with a crown.

We provide many dental services available for your oral health. In the event that we feel the procedure you require is outside the scope of our expertise, we will refer you to a specialist who can better treat your needs. After the specialist has completed the recommended treatment for you, our office will be ready to handle your follow-up care.

We offer the following procedures:

• Air abrasion technology (no drilling required)
• Bleaching of teeth – In office power bleaching and take home bleach trays
• Cleanings, for good oral health and prevention of gingivitis
• Crowns and bridges
• Dental sleep appliance 
• Digital x-rays for clarity and lower radiation
• Full and partial dentures
• Gingivitis treatment
• Implant restorations
• Intra-oral photographs
• Laser surgery of soft tissue conditions
• Minor gum surgery, to correct and prevent further harm to tooth, bone, and gum tissue.
• Nightguard therapy, to relax the jaw muscles at night and to protect your teeth from the harmful effects of grinding
• Non-surgical periodontal therapy, scaling and root planing, to prevent some of the causes of gum disease and breath
• Pediatric (children’s) dentistry, to ensure your child is comfortable and receives proper treatment
• Restorative fillings (amalgam and resin)
• Sealants, for added protection against tooth decay

Looking for a way to be more comfortable during dental treatment? We are happy to announce that we are now offering Nitrous oxide (also known as laughing gas) to our patients. Nitrous oxide is an option for feeling more calm and relaxed in the dental chair. Nitrous also helps manage patient comfort during treatment. After we have reviewed your medical history, we will be able to determine if Nitrous oxide would benefit you!

If you are a candidate for Nitrous, you will wear a mask (over your nose only) during treatment. Nitrous oxide works very quickly and pain alleviating properties develop after two or three minutes of use. It is very safe, has few side effects and the drugs used have no ill effects on the heart, lungs, kidneys or brain. It has also been found to be very effective in eliminating or at least minimizing severe gagging.

Overall we have found the use of Nitrous oxide to be a great improvement in patient comfort and although there is a modest fee for the administration of the laughing gas, patients have commented that the benefits far outweighed the cost!

Check out more about Nitrous oxide on the American Dental Association website.