A denture is a removable frame placed in the mouth that is used to hold missing teeth and give the appearance of a regular tooth. A complete denture will replace all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and helps prevent the existing healthy teeth from shifting position. Additionally, a denture will allow you to chew, bite down, and maintain a beautiful smile.
Dentures can either be “complete” or “partial”. Candidates for complete dentures will have either lost all or most of their existing teeth. A partial denture may be used when there are some natural teeth remaining in the mouth.
Dentures typically take one month to one month and several appointments. You can expect an initial visit to diagnose the case, after-which, an impression or mold of the mouth is taken. Once the denture is made there will be a “try-in” to ensure proper color, shape and fit. Final adjustments are made then a final denture is placed in the mouth after the patient is comfortable with the look and fit.
The first few weeks after a denture is made may be slightly awkward or uncomfortable. This is normal as you have a foreign object in our mouth for the first time. We recommend eating soft foods to start and chewing on both sides of the mouth. We recommend avoiding sticking foods or gum.
Over time, dentures may fit differently, break or chip. We will help you with necessary adjustments or repairs to make sure you are comfortable. In may cases, we can make these repairs in the office, however, sometimes we have to send to a dental laboratory for repairs.
Dentures are affordable and they will save you the embarrassments of living without one tooth or all of your teeth. If you are missing one or more teeth, call us today to schduel and appointment and find out if dentures are right for you.
Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don’t have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative of not having teeth.
Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. You should brush them to remove plaque and food particles before removing your dentures. After they have been removed you should place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don’t drop them. Also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from your dentist if they feel uncomfortable or loose.
