Full & Partial Dentures

Dentistry is all about smiles. Having a confident, healthy, beautiful smile is important even for patients wearing dentures. Our dental spa specializes in a variety of common cosmetic dental procedures, including personalized denture services that meet the needs and comfort levels of our patients. All of our patients are unique and we create one-of-a-kind dentures that feel good and look natural.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are natural-looking replacement teeth that are removable. There are two types of dentures: full and partial.

• Full Dentures are given to patients when all of the natural teeth have been removed. Conventional full dentures are placed after the gum tissue has healed, which can take several months. Immediate full dentures are placed immediately after the teeth have been removed and may require frequent adjustments during the first couple of months of use.
• Partial Dentures are attached to a metal frame that is connected to your natural teeth and are used to fill in where permanent teeth have been removed. Partial dentures are considered a removable alternative to bridges.

How Do I Know If Dentures Are The Right Choice For Me?

Dentures are not for everyone and it’s very important to educate yourself before you have any cosmetic dental procedures done. If you're interested in learning more about dentures and want to know if they are the right choice for you, please schedule an appointment with our dental office. Our team will be happy to answer any questions you might have and can determine the best course of treatment for your ongoing dental health.

Caring For Your Dentures

Dentures, just like natural teeth, require daily maintenance to stay clean and keep bacteria from growing inside of your mouth. Keep your dentures clean and your smile healthy:

• When handling your dentures, stand over a clean, folded towel or a sink full of water. This way, if you accidentally drop your dentures, they are less likely to break.
• Your dentures are not immune from plaque and tartar build-up, so it's important that you brush your dentures every day. To brush your dentures, use a soft-bristled brush and gently brush the surfaces of the dentures, being careful not to break or bend the plastic. Between brushings, it's important to rinse your dentures after each meal.
• Use a gentle cleanser to clean your dentures. Many toothpastes, household cleaners, and mouthwashes can be too hard on your dentures, so it is recommended that you use a mild hand or dish soap to get your dentures clean. Be sure to check for the American Dental Association (ADA) seal of approval to choose products that are safe for your dentures, or ask Dr. Barba about which products may be best for you.
• When you are not wearing your dentures, they need to be kept moist. Dentures that are not kept in a denture cleaning solution or in water can dry out, lose their shape, or even crack and break. Certain styles of dentures require certain soaking solutions, so be sure to ask your dentist which solution is best for you.
• Even if you have a full set of dentures, it's important to keep your gums and tongue clean. Be sure to use a soft-bristled brush to gently clean your gums and tongue every day.

If by chance your dentures do break, please contact our Manasquan dental office and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Broken dentures that don't fit properly can cause irritation to your gums and mouth.

Also, if you experience minor pain or discomfort while adjusting to new dentures, receiving Botox at the dentist can help alleviate pain and better accommodate dentures. Most importantly, remember to continue scheduling regular dental checkups with Dr. Barba every six months to make sure that your smile stays healthy for many years to come.

Implant Restoration

People are living longer than ever, and while regular brushing, flossing, and checkups allow many of us to maintain our natural smiles for a lifetime, sometimes our teeth just can't keep up. If you've lost a tooth (or a few teeth) due to injury or disease, dental implants can rejuvenate both your smile and your oral health.

If you have missing teeth, it is crucial to replace them. Without all of your teeth, chewing and eating can destabilize your bite and cause you discomfort. When teeth are missing, your mouth can shift and even cause your face to look older. Implants are a great way to replace your missing teeth, and if properly maintained, can last a lifetime!

An implant is a synthetic tooth root in the shape of a post that is surgically placed into the jawbone. The “root” is usually made of titanium: the same material used in many replacement hips and knees, and a metal that is well-suited to pairing with human bone. A replacement tooth is then fixed to the post. The tooth can be either permanently attached or removable. Permanent teeth are more stable and feel more like natural teeth.

The ideal candidate for implants is a non-smoker who has good oral health, including a sufficient amount of bone in the jaw and healthy gums with no sign of gum disease.

Single Or Multiple Implants

Implants are versatile and closely resemble natural teeth, making them one of the most common cosmetic dental procedures performed. If you are only missing one tooth, one implant plus one replacement tooth will do the trick. If you are missing several teeth in a row, a few strategically placed implants can support a permanent bridge (a set of replacement teeth). Similarly, if you have lost all of your teeth, a full bridge or full denture can be permanently fixed in your mouth with a strategic number of implants.

Advantages Over Dentures Or Bridges

Conventional bridges and dentures are not fixed to the bone, and can therefore be unstable. This can make it difficult to eat or smile with confidence. Implants not only look more natural but feel and act more like normal teeth, with a stronger biting force. And because they don't directly rely on neighboring teeth for support, implants don't compromise the health of your natural teeth. In fact, bridges are only expected to last seven to ten years, even less with root canals, whereas implants will typically last a lifetime.

Post-Treatment Care

Consider your replacement teeth to be the same as natural teeth. They require the same daily dental care, such as brushing and flossing, and the same amount of regular checkups. Just like your natural teeth, the better you take care of your replacements, the longer they will last.

Implant Services

A patient requiring implant services will be referred to an oral surgeon. Dr. Barba will work closely with your oral surgeon on all cases. Various implant services include:

• Sinus Lift Augmentation: Often the sinuses will enlarge following loss of the upper back teeth. This can preclude placement of dental implants in the upper back areas of the mouth, since the sinus is an air-filled space and dental implants need to be surrounded by solid bone. A sinus lift augmentation/graft is a surgical procedure that restores the sinus cavity to its original size, and replaces the bone that has been lost as a result of the enlarged sinus. This new bone graft typically takes nine to 12 months to heal before the dental implants can be placed into the grafted bone.

 

• Autogenous Bone Grafting: Occasionally, the ideal areas for dental implants do not have sufficient bone quantity to support the implants. In these cases, it is often necessary to “borrow” bone from another area of your mouth and graft it into the deficient area. Often, the area of choice is from the chin or in the back of the jaw where your wisdom teeth used to be.

 

• Implant Site Development: When a tooth needs to be removed due to infection, it is not uncommon to have lost bone around the infected tooth. In these cases, various types of bone grafting can be done at the same time the tooth is removed to facilitate the placement of a dental implant at a later date.

 

• Computer-Enhanced Treatment Planning: Special computer software allows your doctor to evaluate your dental CT scan in three dimensions for bone quality, bone quantity, and bone location. This enables the best possible placement of your dental implants. This also allows the doctor to work closely and smoothly with your restorative dentist to ensure an ideal result where your dental implants are concerned.

 

• Implant Maintenance: Once your dental implant restoration is completed, it is important to keep the area clean and infection-free. Dental implants can accumulate plaque and tartar just as teeth can. Whether you have just one tooth replaced by an implant or several, a professional cleaning schedule with Dr. Barba will be necessary to keep your implants healthy. The time interval for these professional cleanings will be determined by your individual needs.

Teeth Whitening

There are many products and techniques available for patients who want to achieve a brighter smile. With so many options available, it can be difficult to choose the method that is right for you. The best way to begin any teeth-whitening regimen is to schedule an appointment and talk to a cosmetic dentist in New Jersey, like Dr. Barba, about the differences between in-office professional whitening and at-home whitening. Dentistry teeth whitening is a safer and controlled process and oftentimes more comfortable if you require teeth whitening for sensitive teeth.

In-Office Teeth Whitening in NJ

The first professional option is commonly referred to as in-office whitening. This procedure is recommended for patients who have already achieved a healthy smile and also for those who are interested in teeth whitening after Invisalign treatment. This procedure is performed in our dental spa. During an appointment, your teeth whitening technician will apply a whitening gel to the surface of your teeth. The entire office visit generally takes about 90 minutes and you will see results immediately.

At-Home Teeth Whitening

Tray Whitening From Dr. Barba

Tray bleaching is a type of professional whitening that is available from our Manasquan dental office. This uses custom-made trays and whitening gel only available through your dentist. The whitening gel is placed in custom-fitted trays that fit perfectly over your teeth. As the peroxide in the gel breaks down, hydroxyradicals help whiten stained teeth. Unlike strips, this process whitens all your natural teeth and may contain ingredients intended to provide maximum comfort. At-home professional tray whitening generally takes ten to 14 days, although you may notice results in as little as three to five days.

Paint-On Teeth Whiteners

There are many over-the-counter teeth whitening options, and one type of readily accessible whitening products is commonly referred to as a “paint-on” teeth whitener. Paint-on whiteners can be purchased over-the-counter and generally are less expensive and less effective than whitening strips or professional options. Paint-on teeth whiteners consist of a gel that is applied to the tooth using a small brush. Paint-on whitening gel hardens into a film that coats the teeth, and dissolves in the mouth. As with any teeth-whitening regimen, it is wise to consult with a cosmetic dentist in NJ before use.

Teeth-Whitening Strips

Teeth-whitening strips are thin, flexible plastic (polyethylene) strips with a thin film of hydrogen peroxide on one side. Whitening strip kits come with two types of strips: strips for the upper teeth and strips for the lower teeth. The whitening agent is applied by placing the strips across your teeth and gently pressing the strips to ensure contact with all your teeth. Teeth-whitening strips are typically worn for 30 minutes a day, twice a day. The duration of treatment will vary.

Whitening Toothpaste and Mouthwash

The least expensive options are whitening toothpastes and mouthwashes. Designed to have “whitening” capabilities, toothpastes and mouthwashes work to remove surface stains using mild abrasives. However, unlike the materials used in professional whitening procedures, these products do not lighten the actual color shade of the tooth. Whitening toothpastes affect surface stains and will mildly lighten your teeth.

Veneers

You no longer need to hide your smile because of gaps, chips, stains, or misshapen teeth. With veneers, you can easily correct your teeth’s imperfections to help you have a more confident, beautiful smile. Veneers are natural in appearance and are a perfect option for patients wanting to make minor adjustments to the look and feel of their smile.

Veneers are thin, custom-made shells made from tooth-colored materials (such as porcelain), and they are designed to cover the front side of your teeth. To prepare for veneers, Dr. Barba will take a highly accurate digital impression of your teeth using an iTero scanner. Through the use of CAD/CAM technology, the veneer is created in the office. Before placing your new veneer, Dr. Barba may need to conservatively prepare your tooth to achieve the desired aesthetic result.

When your veneers are placed, you’ll be pleased to see that they look like your natural teeth, making them one of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures available. While veneers are stain resistant, Dr. Barba may recommend that you avoid coffee, tea, red wine, and tobacco to maintain the beauty of your new smile.

Difference Between Porcelain And Composite Veneers

There are two main types of dental veneers - porcelain and composite resin. While these two types are similar in appearance, they differ in characteristics and material. Dr. Barba will thoroughly discuss all of your options to help you make the right decision for your personal smile journey.

Aesthetics

Porcelain veneers have a translucent quality, making them look more natural compared to composite resin. The surface of a porcelain veneer reflects light the same way a natural tooth does. Composite veneers, on the other hand, are somewhat opaque and do not catch light as brilliantly.

Durability

With proper care, porcelain veneers should last for about 10 to 15 years, and composite veneers typically last around 4 to 8 years. Although porcelain is very fragile, once bonded to a healthy tooth, it becomes extremely durable. While composite may be durable, it is not as strong as bonded porcelain.

Application

Porcelain veneers are permanent. The application process requires removing some of the surface of the tooth. Though a minimally invasive preparation may be done, once your tooth has been altered, it cannot be reversed. Composite veneers are bonded directly to the tooth, making them reversible in many cases.

Cost

While composite veneers are initially more affordable than porcelain veneers, they will not last as long. When determining which type of veneer is right for you, it is important to discuss your personal and aesthetic goals with Dr. Barba before beginning treatment.