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If you are missing teeth, the advances in dentistry provide more options than ever to replace them and restore your smile. With so many options, it can be difficult to encounter the differences between your options. When implants and other methods cant restore your teeth, this condition is still treated by dentures. However, there are new dentures that are called overdentures. In this blog, we will be looking at the difference between regular dentures and overdentures.

What are Traditional Dentures?

What are Traditional Dentures?
Traditional or “regular” dentures are known as artificial teeth mounted on a base made of acrylic. This base has a similar appearance to gums. These types of dentures are held in the mouth by natural suction, adhesives, or a combination of the two. The primary advantage of regular dentures is that they are typically less expensive than other dental prosthetics, such as implants, a fixed bridge, or overdentures. Some of the significant advantages of traditional dentures are:

  • Can be fitted in a single appointment – Once your dentist has made a proper fitting of your mouth, it usually takes about 1 – 2 weeks for the dentures to be ready. Once they are ready, you will be able to pick them up. While you wait, you may be given a temporary denture to wear.
  • More affordable: Regular dentures are typically less expensive than other dental prosthetics, such as implants.
  • No surgery: The procedure with traditional dentures is relatively simple and does not require surgery.

What are Overdentures?

What are Overdentures?
Overdentures are similar in appearance to traditional dentures from the outside. However, they are more secure in your mouth by screwing or clipping onto titanium implants situated in the jawbone. In addition, overdentures are significantly more stable because they clip into a solid foundation instead of just resting in the mount. Some of the significant benefits of overdentures include:

  • Stable and secure – Overdentures are more secure than traditional dentures due to being anchored by natural teeth or dental implants.
  • Easier to speak and eat – Because these dentures are anchored, you can eat and speak freely without the worry they will dislodge or slip out.
  • Looks like real teeth – Overdentures are custom-made to fit your mouth and blend with existing teeth. This leads to a more natural-looking smile!
  • Retain structure in the jawbone – Traditional dentures tend to accelerate bone loss in the jaw, while overdentures help stimulate and preserve bone growth in the jawbone.

Are You a Good Candidate for Overdentures?

Most patients are good candidates for overdentures. The most critical factor to consider is the amount of bone you have to support the implant. In the case that you don’t have a sufficient amount of bone, other procedures may be required before implants can be considered. During your consultations with your dental specialists, they will determine if you are a candidate in, if not, the treatments you would need to become one.

However, if you go the route of traditional dentures, you don’t have to worry about having enough bone or undergoing other procedures. All you need for traditional dentures is enough gum tissue to support the denture. In any case, ask your dentist during your next visit to the clinic whether or not overdentures are right for you.

Bone Mass Requirements for Overdentures

Have you been considering getting overdentures but told that you don’t have a sufficient amount of bone mass? This is a common issue, especially for patients that have been missing certain teeth for an extended period of time! This is because the teeth’ roots help stimulate the bone and keep it healthy. Without this particular stimulation, the bone begins to shrink or atrophy.

What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing Dentures?

What Factors Should I Consider When Choosing Dentures?

Now that you have learned a little about traditional vs. overdentures, how do you end up deciding what is the best option for you? Ultimately, the decision will come to your preferences, unique needs, and budget. If you have talked with your dental professional and are eligible for both, consider the following before making your decision:

Durability and Comfort

When many patients ask their dentists about the best type of dentures for them, one of the first questions they ask is usually about their particular lifestyle. This is because how a patient lives their life has a significant impact on the type of denture best for the patient. For example:

  • If you live an active lifestyle, you should consider overdentures because they are more stable and durable when compared to traditional dentures.
  • Overdentures are more comfortable as they don’t move around in the mouth.
  • Overdentures are anchored to your existing teeth or implants, which means they are more comfortable and secure.

What are your Budget and Time Constraints?

As we mentioned above, traditional dentures are less expensive than overdentures. However, many patients who have got traditional dentures in the past have realized that the upkeep required by them can add up and outweigh the cost that overdentures boast in the long run. Some dental clinics have payment plans for dentures, so it makes it easier to consider more durable and stable options.

Talk With Your Dentist to Consider All Options

Restoring your smile is the leading goal for your dental professional. There are many things that need to be taken into consideration before you get the help you need. Therefore, when you are considering dentures to restore your smile, make sure you speak with your dentist about your budget and lifestyle. Following a thorough investigation of your existing teeth and the structure of your jawbone, your dentist will provide you with the best solution for your particular condition.

Contact Beautiful Smiles Dental Center Today

If you or someone you love are missing teeth and need an expert solution, contact the specialists at Beautiful Smiles Dental Center today! They will help find the best answer to get your smile looking amazing once again. Are you ready to learn about your options? Then book your consultation with Beautiful Smiles Dental Center.



New Year, new you! It’s time to finally take control of exactly what you want to achieve and make those positive changes that will turn 2019 into the best year yet – and why not, you’re worth it!From boosting your confidence to helping you to take the next step up in your career, a routine visit to Beautiful Smiles Dental Center in Gurnee is THE New Year’s resolution that’s going to give you the confidence to live your life exactly how you want to.


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Back Off the Grind: Stop Nocturnal Bruxism

We know only too well how bad teeth grinding can be and if you currently suffer from this nightmare of a problem, we sympathize with you. However, the great news is that just by clicking and reading this article you are already closer to discovering some of the best ways to stop the discomfort and pain caused by grinding your teeth.

 

Teeth grinding, or nocturnal bruxism as it is also known, is a condition where you unintentionally and in a lot of cases, unconsciously grind your teeth together. It affects well in excess of a million adults and children across the world and if you suffer from this condition, you will understand just how badly it can play havoc with your life and health.

 

In the following article, you will get to know some really powerful and helpful tips and advice to stop you grinding your teeth. Before we bite into those though, it is best to help you understand better why you actually grind your teeth.

 

What Causes Teeth Grinding – Particularly At Night?

 

There are two main types of teeth grinding –

Daytime/Awake bruxism: Daytime bruxism is typically connected to tension, stress and anxiety

Night-time/Asleep bruxism: Night-time bruxism on the other hand is more likely connected to a chewing action related to sleep.

 

Although there is a wide array of different views and opinions in the medical world as to what causes teeth grinding, most suggest that it is mainly associated with anxiety and stress. Further to this though, teeth grinding has also been associated with sleeping position or style changes, problems with teeth alignment, heredity-related factors and other problems with biting.

 

Headaches, Migraines, Anxiety And Teeth Grinding

 

As well as causing the obvious issues such as the filing down of your teeth, muscular tension in your jaw, tooth sensitivity and toothache; teeth grinding can also be responsible for causing excruciatingly painful migraines and headaches. While you are grinding your teeth, your jaw is unlikely to be positioned correctly, which will make the muscles in your jaw suffer fatigue and become more susceptible to it.

 

As your jaw muscles use a lot of energy and strength moving your jaw, when fatigue sets in muscle contraction could occur which leads to the migraines and headaches noted above. If you grind or clench your teeth though, you are also putting yourself in danger of suffering from stiff neck muscles. This itself can trigger headaches and lead to feelings of anxiety and stress.

 

Sleep Apnea And Other Sleep Disorders And Teeth Grinding

 

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Snoring and sleeping disorders like sleep apnea, where there are pauses in your breathing are other reported causes for teeth clenching and grinding. If you know your teeth grinding is related to a sleep disorder, there is a very simple 2 step plan you can follow:

 

Speak to a sleep disorder specialist – Arrange an appointment, or ask your general practitioner for a referral to a sleep disorder specialist so you can find out if you have sleep apnea or not and to what extent. Once you know for sure that you do suffer from sleep apnea and it is likely to be the cause of your teeth grinding, you need to make an appointment with your dentist.

 

Get treatment from a qualified dentist – If you want to stop suffering the painful effects of jaw clenching and teeth grinding, you need to have professional treatment from a qualified dental practitioner. It can be very helpful, because not only can you find out the best oral appliances to use such as splints and mouth guards, that can help you stop your night-time teeth grinding, you will also get great tips and advice for oral health care. Mouth guards are devices used in orthodontics that you attach to your teeth before you go to sleep at night and prevent you from grinding your teeth unconsciously. They also help to alleviate a lot of the discomfort and pain that comes from excessive clenching, tension and friction.

 

How To Stop Bruxism In Its Tracks

 

As noted earlier, it is not only sleep disorders that are considered a cause for teeth grinding; anxiety and stress are two other factors that are also thought to be responsible. The following are DIY home remedies and techniques that can help children and adults alike to stop grinding their teeth.

 

  1. Arrange For Stress And Anxiety Counseling

 

If you discover that stress and anxiety are the main reasons why you grind your teeth, you should look for ways to manage your stress levels. Ask your medical practitioner or even your dentist for any advice they can give. It is also a good idea to participate in physical therapy sessions and exercise groups that can help alleviate stress or at least manage it better. Massage and stretching can be used to relax your muscles, releasing a lot of the tension from your body and reducing your stress.

 

You could also arrange to have some one on one anxiety and stress counseling. Often, your stress builds up because you feel dragged down by various pressures and responsibilities in life. Talking with someone impartial, who is not a friend or relative with a vested interest in your life, can help you to make sense of your anxiety.

 

  1. Start Relaxing Your Jaw Muscles Every Night Before You Sleep

 

It may help to make it a habit of relaxing your muscles at night before you go to sleep. You can do this by placing a warmed piece of cloth on the side of your face. This particular method is more effective with people who grind their teeth as a result of an acute situation, such as a broken or otherwise injured jaw.

 

  1. Yoga And Meditation

 

Meditation and stretching exercises of yoga are other ways that people often use to reduce their stress and anxiety levels. They are actually very effective when it comes to tackling teeth grinding issues. This is because not only do they lessen tension throughout the body but they also reduce muscle activity too.

 

  1. Work Hard At It

 

To stop grinding your teeth, you need to put considerable amounts of personal effort into the process. You have to teach yourself to stop doing it – in a similar way to how muscle memory training works. Always try to make sure that the tip of your tongue sits between your teeth, as this will enable the muscles in your jaw to relax. It is also important to stop or at least reduce habits that involve you clenching your jaw, such as chewing gum.

 

  1. Reduce The Amount Of Caffeine And Alcoholic Drinks You Consume

 

As strange as it may seem at first, there are many who believe that there is a connection between consuming caffeinated and alcoholic drinks and teeth grinding. There is evidence that shows that teeth grinding and clenching becomes more intense after these kinds of drinks have been consumed.

 

While it is true that caffeine does not cause teeth grinding directly, it certainly is a contributory factor that makes it worse. This is mainly because caffeine increases your awareness and alertness levels. Thus, if you are experiencing bouts of stress and anxiety already and drinking large quantities of caffeine, coffee and other drinks like it, will only heighten those feelings, leading to teeth grinding.







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