Prosthodontics

Restoring Your Smile with Custom Dental Prosthetics

Prosthodontics is the branch of dentistry that focuses on replacing missing teeth and restoring oral function with custom-made prosthetic devices. Whether you’re missing one tooth or all of your teeth, modern prosthodontic solutions can restore your ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence. At Castlewood Dental Group, Dr. Jake Shelburne and Dr. Chris Davenport provide comprehensive prosthodontic services to patients throughout Castlewood, the Tri-Cities region, and surrounding Southwest Virginia communities. We create custom prosthetics designed for comfort, function, and natural appearance.

Types of Prosthodontic Solutions

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures replace all the teeth in your upper or lower jaw. Modern dentures are more comfortable and natural-looking than ever before. They’re custom-made to fit your mouth and match your facial features, giving you a natural-looking smile. Traditional complete dentures are placed after your gums have healed from tooth extractions, which typically takes several weeks. During this healing period, you may wear temporary dentures.

Partial Dentures

If you’re missing several teeth but still have some healthy natural teeth remaining, a partial denture can fill the gaps. Partial dentures attach to your remaining teeth with metal clasps or precision attachments, restoring your ability to chew properly and preventing your remaining teeth from shifting. Modern partial dentures are designed to be stable and comfortable while looking natural. We’ll create a partial denture that matches your existing teeth in color and shape.

Implant-Supported Dentures

For patients who want more stability than traditional dentures provide, implant-supported dentures offer an excellent solution. Dental implants are placed in your jawbone, and the denture attaches to these implants. This provides superior stability, eliminates slipping, and allows you to eat a wider variety of foods with confidence. Implant-supported dentures can be fixed (permanent) or removable, depending on your preferences and situation. Our Castlewood practice has extensive experience with implant-supported prosthetics for Tri-Cities area patients.

Dental Bridges

Bridges are fixed prosthetics that replace one or more missing teeth. Traditional bridges are supported by your natural teeth on either side of the gap. The bridge is permanently cemented in place, so it functions just like your natural teeth. For a more conservative approach that doesn’t require altering adjacent teeth, implant-supported bridges provide an excellent alternative.

The Prosthodontic Process

Creating custom dentures or other prosthetics requires several appointments at our Castlewood office:

Initial Consultation and Planning

Dr. Shelburne or Dr. Davenport will evaluate your oral health, discuss your goals, and recommend the best prosthodontic solution for your situation. If you need extractions or other preparatory work, we’ll create a comprehensive treatment plan.

Impressions and Measurements

We’ll take precise impressions and measurements of your mouth to ensure your prosthetic fits comfortably and functions properly. Multiple appointments may be needed to ensure proper fit, bite, and appearance.

Custom Fabrication

Your prosthetic is custom-made in a dental laboratory to match your specifications. We’ll have you try it on to check the fit and make any necessary adjustments before finalizing.

Placement and Adjustment

Once your prosthetic is complete, we’ll place it and make final adjustments for comfort and function. We’ll provide detailed instructions on caring for your new teeth and schedule follow-up appointments to ensure everything is working properly.

Adjusting to Your New Teeth

It takes time to adjust to wearing dentures or other prosthetics. You may experience some initial discomfort or difficulty speaking and eating. This is normal and improves as you get used to your new teeth. Our team will provide guidance on adjusting to your prosthetic and will make modifications as needed for optimal comfort. Most patients adapt within a few weeks and can return to eating most of their favorite foods.

Caring for Your Prosthetics

Proper care extends the life of your dentures or other prosthetics. Remove and rinse your dentures after eating, brush them daily with a soft-bristled brush and denture cleaner, soak them overnight in denture solution, and handle them carefully to avoid damage. Continue to visit our Castlewood office regularly for checkups. We’ll examine your prosthetic, check the fit, and evaluate the health of your gums and any remaining teeth.

Investment in Your Quality of Life

The cost of prosthodontic treatment varies depending on which type of prosthetic you need and the complexity of your case. During your consultation, we’ll provide detailed cost estimates for your specific treatment plan. Most dental insurance plans provide coverage for dentures and other prosthetics. Our insurance coordinator, Michelle, can help you understand your coverage and payment options. We also offer financing to make treatment manageable for our Southwest Virginia patients.

Prosthodontics in the Tri-Cities Region

Castlewood Dental Group serves patients throughout Castlewood, Russell County, Smyth County, and the greater Tri-Cities area. Dr. Shelburne and Dr. Davenport have helped many patients restore their smiles and oral function with custom prosthodontic solutions. If you’re missing teeth and want to learn about your replacement options, we can evaluate your situation and recommend the best solution for your needs.