Dentures in Norcross, GA

Millions of Americans are missing all of their teeth. In Gwinnett County, 1 in 10 older adults is completely edentulous, meaning they’ve lost all of their teeth. According to the CDC, severe tooth loss is 50% higher in people with poor overall health or chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, and emphysema. If you are missing all of your teeth or need to have your remaining teeth extracted to preserve your health, dentures can help improve your quality of life.

At Carter-Rockbridge General Dentistry, Dr. Stingley is proud to offer implant dentures as a modern alternative to dentures. These options use dental implants to stabilize a full arch of prosthetic teeth. Our advanced tooth loss solutions can restore your bite, enhance your smile, and improve your overall well-being!

Traditional Dentures

Traditional full dentures are a complete set of teeth on a pink base that mimics the appearance of gums. These removable prosthetics are supported by the gum ridge. Upper dentures have additional acrylic covering the palate (the roof of the mouth) to help them stay in place.

While complete dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth, partial dentures replace one or several teeth. Like full dentures, they sit on an acrylic base. However, partial dentures are made to fit around your remaining natural teeth and are held in place with metal or acrylic clasps.

Even though full and partial dentures are custom-fitted to the patient’s oral anatomy, they don’t maintain their original fit for long. This gradual loosening leads to instability and discomfort.

Some patients choose traditional dentures because they seem more affordable up front, but the frequent adjustments and maintenance they require add unexpected costs and inconvenience.

The Drawbacks of Traditional Dentures

For decades, traditional dentures have been a go-to solution for replacing a full arch of teeth. However, they come with some major drawbacks.

Slipping or Falling Out

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One of the most common problems with traditional dentures is their tendency to move in the mouth or even fall out. This slippage, or the sense that the teeth are “floating,” can lead to embarrassment and frustration, especially if they pop out while eating, speaking, laughing, or yawning.

Not only are unstable dentures inconvenient, but they can also be very uncomfortable. As they slide against the gums, they can cause irritation and mouth sores.

Lower dentures tend to be much less secure than upper dentures. For some people, the movement of loose dentures even triggers gagging. While adhesives can help, they are a messy, short-term solution.

Denture Stomatitis

This oral yeast infection commonly affects denture wearers. It is characterized by redness and swelling, irritation and soreness, patches of red or white spots, or cracking in the corners of the mouth.

Denture stomatitis is a result of using improperly fitting dentures, wearing them during sleep, or maintaining inadequate oral hygiene. You can manage mild stomatitis with improved oral hygiene, but more advanced infections may require antifungal treatment.

Eating Difficulties

Wearing traditional dentures significantly reduces your bite force. As a result, many people tend to eat soft foods that are easier to chew and won’t cause pain or damage to the prosthetic. However, these foods might lack nutritional value, leading to negative health outcomes.

Many people also feel that dentures make it harder to enjoy meals because tasting food can be more difficult. Upper dentures, in particular, have a base plate that covers the roof of your mouth, where many taste buds are located. This can affect how things taste and even take a toll on your overall well-being over time.

Speech Problems

Speaking with dentures takes practice. New denture wearers often struggle to speak clearly as they adjust to the fit and feel of the appliance. Certain sounds and words can be challenging to pronounce, and some people may experience lisps and slurred or muffled speech. The dentures can also generate whistling or clicking sounds as you talk.

While many online pages offer tips for speaking with dentures, the process can still be frustrating. And even as you get used to them, it often becomes harder to speak clearly as the fit loosens over time.

Damage or Loss

Because dentures are removable appliances, they are easy to misplace or break.

For example, frequent removal of the prosthetic can cause it to crack, while falls from tabletops or counters can damage the appliance or create weak areas that fracture later.

Short Lifespan

Wearing dentures leads to tissue changes in your mouth over time, which affects how well they fit. That’s why they need to be regularly relined, a process that reshapes the denture to maintain comfort.

Even with these adjustments, traditional dentures don’t last forever. They usually need replacement every 5 to 7 years.

Implant Dentures: A Modern Alternative

Traditional dentures can start to feel more frustrating the longer you wear them. As your mouth changes, they loosen and become harder to live with. At Carter-Rockbridge General Dentistry, we believe you shouldn’t have to fight with your teeth to enjoy a meal or feel good about your smile. With this in mind, we’re proud to offer practical, long-lasting solutions that reflect your goals, your health, and the way you actually live.

Implant dentures provide better outcomes for our patients. They fit more securely, feel more natural, and deliver results you can count on.

These appliances replace a full arch of teeth with a prosthesis that is anchored by dental implants. While Dr. Stingley may use traditional implants for this purpose, she often prefers mini dental implants due to their many benefits. These narrow-diameter implants are half the size and half the cost of standard implants.

Because of their small size and single-piece design, Dr. Stingley can often complete the procedure in just one visit. Her gentle, minimally invasive approach also significantly shortens healing time. And while these implants are narrow in diameter, they deliver stable and reliable support, especially for patients who want a more secure denture.

Types of Implant Dentures

Dr. Stingley offers several implant denture solutions, including:

  • Snap-in dentures look similar to traditional dentures, but dental implants secure the prosthetic to the bone. Dr. Stingley will place 2-4 traditional implants or 4-8 mini implants in your jaw, depending on your individual needs. These snap-in overdentures are removable, allowing you to detach your prosthetic for cleaning.
  • Roundhouse bridges are full arches of artificial teeth. They have an incredibly natural appearance and feel, and they closely match the function of natural teeth. Because they are made from premium materials, they are remarkably long-lasting and durable. Our roundhouse bridges come in two types: semi-removable bridges, which are removed only by Dr. Stingley for cleaning and maintenance, and non-removable bridges, which are permanently cemented to the implants. The type that is best for you depends on your preferences and budget.

Take the Next Step Toward a Confident Smile

If you’re missing teeth and ready for a more personalized and reliable solution, Dr. Stingley is here to help. She has years of experience placing both traditional and mini implants, and she’ll use the approach that makes the most sense for your situation. With a wide range of tools and techniques at her fingertips, she focuses on what will actually work best for your smile.

Book a free screening to learn how our secure, comfortable dentures can transform your life.

Frequently Asked Questions

We can address many drawbacks of traditional tooth-replacement options with dental implants. No matter the implant-supported solution you choose, you can look forward to life-changing advantages:

  • Enhanced fit: Implant dentures stay in place. They won’t slip or shift around while you eat or talk, which means more comfort and less frustration.
  • Stronger bite: Implants are anchored to your jaw and help spread out your bite pressure, giving you more strength when you chew. You’ll be able to enjoy foods that were once difficult to eat with traditional dentures. And since they don’t cover the roof of your mouth, you’ll be able to taste your food more fully.
  • Improved speech: Thanks to their stability, implant dentures contribute to clearer and more natural speech. You won’t have to worry about awkward clicks or slipping when you’re in conversation.
  • Long-term bone health: After tooth loss, your gums and jaw begin to shrink. While traditional dentures can accelerate bone loss, implant options stimulate the jawbone, preventing bone loss.
  • Longer lifespan: Roundhouse bridges are exceptionally durable and can last for decades. Cemented options are especially long-lasting, allowing you to enjoy a confident smile for years to come.

Yes, it can! If you’re wearing a traditional denture that moves around or needs adhesive to stay in place, we can help. At our office, we place mini dental implants, which means we can often stabilize your current denture the same day. It’s a quick, gentle process that gives you immediate relief.

While that same-day fix is temporary, it gives you the chance to experience how much better life can be with a secure denture. When the time is right, we can create a new custom overdenture that gives you long-lasting comfort, function, and confidence.

When you lose your teeth, your jawbone naturally shrinks because it’s no longer getting the stimulation it needs. This stimulation normally comes from the tooth roots, which sit inside the jawbone. When you bite and chew, the roots apply healthy pressure that keeps the bone strong. Without the roots, the bone deteriorates.

As the jawbone changes, your denture doesn’t change with it! What once fit well eventually starts to shift, rub, or feel uncomfortable. That’s when you start relying on adhesives to keep it in place.

At our office, we talk about this with patients all the time, and we’ve seen how frustrating it can be. That’s why we’re so excited about implant solutions.

Because we place implants in the jawbone, they give your bone the support it needs to stay healthy. As a result, you’ll experience better long-term bone health and a denture that stays where it belongs.