Everyone deserves a bright, confident smile. For individuals struggling with tooth loss, dentures are a fantastic solution to fill in gaps and restore function. Dentures come in a variety of shades, which makes matching your smile easy. Since most patients use dentures every day, finding the right appliance is key for long-term wearability, comfort, and satisfaction.

Why Do You Need Dentures?

Dentures are custom-made oral appliances designed to replace missing teeth.

Full vs. Partial

Depending on the nature of the tooth loss, patients might be considering either full or partial dentures to fill in their smile. Full dentures replace an entire row of teeth and are held in place with denture glue. Partial dentures fill in gaps and hook around existing teeth for a secure and natural looking fit.

Porcelain vs. Acrylic

While porcelain dentures are praised for their durability and resemblance to natural teeth, acrylic dentures are lighter and gentler on gums. Acrylic dentures are highly customizable, so it’s possible to match the appliance to both your teeth and gum color for a seamless appearance.

What are the Benefits?

Dentures aren’t only about aesthetic considerations. In fact, dentures significantly improve your overall health, nutrition, and jaw function.

Benefits of using dentures include:

• Eating – One of the main reasons patients choose to invest in dentures is to assist with chewing. By replacing missing teeth, it’s easier to eat and enjoy meals. Plus, well-chewed food is better for your digestive system and is easier to absorb into the body.
• Speaking – Tooth loss often results in difficulty speaking, or alterations in your natural speaking voice. Dentures improve speech and help you regain confidence in social interactions.
• Face Shape ­– In addition to affecting your speech capabilities, tooth loss influences the shape of your face and your jaw function. Dentures provide much-needed support to neighboring teeth and prevent sagging cheeks and lips.  
• Smile – Last but not least, dentures restore the fullness of your smile. A confident smile helps you flourish in social settings and make a good impression on new acquaintances.

Why Matching Your Smile Matters

Part of the purpose of dentures is to blend seamlessly into your mouth. Ironically, the best dentures are the ones you don’t realize are there! In order to gain the best possible results, dentures are customized to match your tooth and gum color.

Matching Teeth Colors

Most denture manufacturers have a palette displaying various color options for fabricated teeth. These range from more “natural” looking hues to whiter, youthful shades. In some cases, shade selections are highly nuanced, offering a variety of color tones for each shade, similar to a paint strip.

The next step is to determine whether or not your dentures need to match any existing teeth. Keep in mind that when you wear partial dentures, it’s much more noticeable if the denture color doesn’t match your natural teeth. Some patients who need a full set of dentures may choose a whiter shade than their natural teeth for a younger, more vibrant appearance.

Matching Gum Colors

Perfectly matched dentures aren’t only determined by tooth color. Since almost all dentures have visible gum-colored bases, mismatched gum colors are just as jarring as mismatched teeth. Gum color palettes are similar to tooth palettes and come in a wide variety of shades.

Keep in mind that gums may shift color over time. Factors such as gum disease, medication, and smoking may alter gum color, and make old dentures stand out. If your dentures no longer match your gum color, it may be time to order a new set, since acrylic pigment can’t be altered once the dentures are made.

How Do I Get Dentures?

Nowadays, most dentures are made from acrylic materials using a mold of your teeth as a guide. Dentures can either be acquired through your dentist’s office, or through an online custom denture manufacturer.

At Dental Lab Direct we specialize in custom-made dental appliances designed with your comfort in mind. Dental Lab Direct’s three-step ordering process makes getting your new appliance cost-effective and hassle-free. To get started, request a Dental Lab Direct impression kit through our easy-to-use website. Once you receive the DLD impression kit in the mail, complete impressions of your teeth following the instructions provided in the kit. Finally, mail the impression kit back to us and receive your custom dental appliance in 2-3 weeks!

Having a full smile doesn’t need to be an inconvenience. At Dental Lab Direct, we’re here to help you live your life with confidence.