Cosmetic Dentures 

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If you have lost teeth and you don't want, or for some reason aren't suitable for, implants or bridges, don't despair - modern dentures can give you a great result.

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Dentures can be complete or partial. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing. They are usually made entirely of plastic. Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. They usually consist of a metal framework with plastic teeth and gums affixed.

Complete Dentures

These can be either "immediate" or "conventional" .

Immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. This means the wearer does not have to be without teeth while the gums are healing. The problem is that the gums and underlying bone shrink rapidly during the healing period following tooth extraction. Consequently, immediate dentures will have to be adjusted frequently and will probably have to be replaced when healing is complete. In most cases, an immediate denture should be seen as a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.

Conventional dentures are fitted about 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed. Although the bone that normally supports a tooth will continue to shrink throughout life after that tooth has been extracted (unless an implant is fitted), this happens much more slowly after the first 3 months.  

In suitable candidates, complete dentures can ‘click' onto attachments fixed into the jaw bone by implants. These dentures are much more stable and comfortable than conventional dentures which rest on the gum.

Partial Dentures

The limitations described for immediate full dentures also apply to immediate partial dentures, but as these are usually supported primarily by the remaining teeth, the effects of shrinking bone are less dramatic.

Partial dentures serve the dual function of replacing missing teeth and of preventing other teeth from moving, which can cause problems with function, appearance and cleaning.

The Procedure

This is a multi-step process that typically takes place in 5 visits over a 4-6 weeks period.

Following the examination to decide what type of denture is most appropriate for you, we will take impressions (moulds) of your mouth.

The technician will cast models from these impressions. On these models, he or she will make wax blocks which we will use to assess how your jaws relate to each other and how much space there should be between them. The technician will also make impression trays which will fit your mouth much more precisely than the ‘off the peg' trays we used for the initial impressions. We will now take very accurate impressions using these bespoke trays.

Next the technician will supply try-in dentures with the teeth temporarily mounted in wax gum work. We will seat these in your mouth and assess the dentures for colour, shape, and fit. When you're happy and we're happy, we'll instruct the technician to make the finished dentures.

Then, usually a week later, you come back and have your new dentures fitted.

Potential problems

Although by now the fit will be very accurate and will have been ‘fine tuned' during the try-in stages, it's important to remember that your dentures have been made on plaster models. Plaster models don't move like your mouth; they don't have to eat and speak; they don't have squashy areas where the dentures will sink in; they don't have tender areas; they don't have a tongue and lips that have developed certain habitual movements over the years; they don't have to deal with a gag reflex that may take time to get used to having a foreign object in the mouth - and if these aren't your first set of dentures, you may have adapted so well to your old ones that something new, even though it fits better, will inevitably feel wrong for a while. It takes time, and maybe a few adjustments as your mouth acclimatises and your dentures settle into their unique environment. Some discomfort is to be expected for a few weeks but if you are concerned or if you experience anything excessive, please contact us.

Eating with new dentures will take a little practice so start with soft foods cut into small pieces. Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth. As you get used to your new dentures, add other foods until you return to your normal diet. Foods that are extremely sticky or hard may remain a problem, however.

You may have difficulty pronouncing certain words. This will diminish with practice and with time.

Your dentures may occasionally slip when you laugh, cough, or smile. Reposition the dentures by gently biting down and swallowing. If any speech problem persists, call us.

For the first day or two after receiving an immediate denture, we may ask you to wear it all the time, including while you sleep. This is because, if you remove the denture the first night following extractions, your mouth may be too sore to put it back in the next morning. Once things have settled down, you should remove your dentures each night before going to bed. This lets the soft tissues of your mouth rest and allows normal stimulation and cleansing by the tongue and saliva.

While new teeth are settling in, you may gain an extra sense of security from using a denture adhesive or fixative. BUT you should not rely on these for long-term stabilization of an ill-fitting denture. If something isn't right, please contact us.

CLEANING YOUR DENTURES

DENTURE STOMATITIS (YEAST INFECTION)

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