Dentures

Dentures That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you could without teeth—things that people often take for granted.

When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile.

Dentures are custom-made replacements for missing teeth and can be taken out and put back into your mouth. While dentures take some getting used to, and will never feel exactly the same as natural teeth, today’s dentures are natural looking and more comfortable than ever.

They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your smile.

New dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. The dentures may feel loose while the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place.

Full Denture: A conventional full denture is made and placed in a patient’s mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take several months.

An immediate complete denture is inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. The dentist takes measurements and makes models of the patient’s jaws during a preliminary visit.

With immediate dentures, the denture wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period.

Partial Denture: A partial denture rests on a metal framework that attaches to your natural teeth. Sometimes crowns are placed on some of your natural teeth and serve as anchors for the denture. Partial dentures offer a removable alternative to bridges.

It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness. You may find that saliva flow temporarily increases. As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, these problems should go away.

Follow-up appointments are generally needed after a denture is inserted so the fit can be checked and adjusted. If any problem persists, particularly irritation or soreness, be sure to consult us.

Tips to help for optimal Denture care:

1. Daily cleaning of the dentures using mechanical action – brushing with a toothbrush or denture brush and an effective, non-abrasive denture cleanser (no dentifrice).
2. Daily soaking in a denture-cleansing solution – this seems to deliver an extra chemical breakdown of the remaining plaque and some level of disinfection of the denture. Denture-cleansing solutions should only be used outside the mouth, and denture wearers should strictly follow the manufacturers’ guidelines.
3. Denture wearers should not keep their dentures in the mouth overnight unless there are specific reasons for keeping them in. This guideline is even more important for people at a higher risk of developing stomatitis and for frail or institutionalized older people.
4. Soaking in a denture cleanser solution after mechanical cleaning seems to be beneficial for preventing denture stomatitis and the potential risk of pneumonia events in these groups of people.
5. All patients who wear removable dentures should be enrolled in a regular recall and maintenance program with their dental professional.
6. When handling dentures, stand over a folded towel or basin of water. Dentures are delicate and may break if dropped.
7. Don’t let dentures dry out. Place them in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in plain water when you’re not wearing them. Never use hot water, which can cause dentures to warp.
8. Brushing dentures daily will remove food and dental plaque, and help prevent them from becoming stained. An ultrasonic cleaner may be used to care for dentures, but it does not replace a thorough daily brushing.
9. Brush your gums, tongue, and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert dentures. This stimulates circulation in your tissues and helps remove plaque.
10. See your dentist if dentures break, chip, crack, or become loose. Don’t be tempted to adjust them yourself — this can damage them beyond repair.