Dentures

Dentures are replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and placed back in your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, they may receive full or partial denture.

Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures. There are two types of full dentures.

• Conventional Full Dentures – this is when all the removed teeth and tissue are given time to heal before the dentures are placed. It could take a few months for the entire tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.
• Immediate Full Denture- prior to having your teeth removed, your mouth is measured and dentures fitted. After removing your teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have a follow up visit to refit your dentures because your jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. The dentures will need to be tightened after your jaw bone has healed.

Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed. This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

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 will 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. After removing them, you should place them directly in room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them. Do not drop them and never try to adjust your dentures by yourself. You can ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from your dentist if they feel uncomfortable or loose.