How Dentures Have Improved Over the Years

Have you ever heard the rumors that President George Washington had teeth made of wood? While wood was used to make dentures in Japan hundreds of years ago, Washington’s teeth were actually made of ivory, gold, and lead. 

Dentures date way back to 2500 B.C., and myths abound about them being wooden. However, over their lengthy history, denture materials usually included human or animal teeth and ivory until the invention of rubber and plastics. And with the dental advancements in recent decades, dentures have become better than ever. 

At Beaumont Cherry Valley Dental in Beaumont, California, Daniel Park, DDS, uses his skills as a general and cosmetic dentist to create the perfect set of partial or complete dentures. If you need to replace a number or all of your teeth, here’s why you should consider dentures.

Common misconceptions about dentures

Tooth loss is a serious problem, and it can happen at any age. However, many people put off replacing missing teeth because of misconceptions, especially when it involves dentures.

Dentures are oral devices that look like teeth and gums. The gum portion of a denture sits securely on your gum line, which allows it to replace a few missing teeth or all of your teeth on the top or bottom of your mouth. This design is also what gives dentures a bad reputation.

If you ever heard that dentures are uncomfortable, make it difficult to eat, or look unnatural, you’re not alone. However, while those may have been problems in the past, modern dentures have made those issues a distant memory. 

Dentures today are completely custom-made, which means they’re made to fit your mouth perfectly and visually match all of your existing teeth. You can even have dentures made that closely resemble your natural teeth, so your smile barely changes at all.

Meet the new dentures

Unlike dentures in the past, modern dentures use acrylic resin or flexible (nylon) polymer materials for the base. These options create a lighter, snugger, and more comfortable fit on your gum line that also improves performance. 

The tooth portion of modern dentures usually comes in acrylic resin. This material is quite lightweight and adheres securely in the denture base. It’s also easy to adjust to ensure the perfect fit and look.

Another thing that sets apart modern dentures involves the steps to produce the perfect device. During your appointment, Dr. Park makes a series of molds of your mouth. He then uses these molds to make models of your mouth.

Next, your dentures are made using these models to ensure a proper fit, an ideal bite, and the ideal esthetics to create the perfect smile.

When completed, Dr. Park brings you back to the office for your initial fitting. At this point, you wear your new dentures for a short period of time to gauge their fit and comfort. If any issues arise, you can return to the office for additional adjustments.

Are you ready to see if dentures are right for you? To learn more, call 951-845-2661 to book an appointment with Beaumont Cherry Valley Dental today.