If you are missing one or more teeth, you may avoid looking in the mirror, laughing with friends and family, or speaking at social events. Facial muscles may sag, making you look older than your actual age, and your self-esteem might take a backseat because of this. Fortunately, our family dentist provides a long-lasting, durable solution that replicates the appearance of natural teeth. At Three Fountains Family Dental, Dr. Peter O. Stoltz and Dr. Brook M. Stoltz have several types of dentures available for patients who live near our West Columbia, SC, dental office.

When to Consider Dentures

When there are empty spaces in the mouth, you may experience pain while chewing, causing you to sacrifice the foods you once enjoyed. Dentures will close those gaps and improve your bite entirely. If gums are bleeding, swollen, or tender from periodontal disease or decay, dentures can restore their health, and make you want to smile again. Dentures also support the facial structures in the lips and cheeks, which can deliver a more youthful appearance, revitalizing your confidence in addition to your aesthetic appearance.

Types of Dentures Available

Dr. Peter Stoltz and Dr. Brook Stoltz provide patients with choices in our West Columbia, SC, dental office. Dentures improve tooth function, enhance your appearance and smile, and reinforce your facial muscles from missing or damaged teeth. At Three Fountains Family Dental, the types of dentures available include:

• Transitional Partial - a temporary denture that transitions a patient from a full to a partial
• Removable Partial - a metal framework that consists of replacement teeth that attaches to a gum-colored base
• Conventional Full - a pink acrylic base designed to look like your gums that holds replacement teeth
• Implant-Supported Over-dentures - supported by and attached to implants.

Caring For Your Dentures

Once our family dentist assesses the need for your dentures, the steps involved with the procedure will depend on the type that is best suitable for your specific situation. At Three Fountains Family Dental, we consider several factors during your smile assessment, such as the number of remaining teeth, periodontal health, and amount of bone loss. Once you receive your permanent set of dentures, it may take some time to adjust to their feel. They require the same attention as your natural teeth, which involve an adequate oral care routine of brushing at least twice a day, and flossing away food particles at least once a day.

At Three Fountains Family Dental, our staff is committed to building a foundation of trust with patients from their initial appointment throughout the course of a lifetime. If you'd like to correct your smile with restorative and cosmetic dentistry, visit family dentist, Dr. Peter Stoltz and Dr. Brook Stoltz to discuss one of the different types of dentures available. To make an appointment in our West Columbia, SC, office, please call (803) 755-0039.