DENTURES

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available — complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures can be either “conventional” or “immediate.” Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.

Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore a disadvantage of immediate dentures compared with conventional dentures is that they require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process and generally should only be considered a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.

Partial Dentures

A removable partial denture or bridge usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is sometimes connected by metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. A fixed bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the space and attaching artificial teeth to them. This “bridge” is then cemented into place. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position. A precision partial denture is removable and has internal attachments rather than clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns. This is a more natural-looking appliance.

Implant-supported denture

An implant-supported denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to implants. A regular denture rests on the gums, and is not supported by implants. An implant-supported denture is used when a person doesn’t have any teeth in the jaw, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants.

Overdenture

An implant overdenture fits over your own remaining natural teeth roots or dental implants that have been installed by your oral surgeon or other dental specialist. The retained root or implant provides you with excellent stability and support for your denture implants.

Dentures have many benefits to health and appearance, but if not fitted correctly, they become more of a hindrance than a treatment. To find the perfect fit, changes might need to be made well after they are placed, but once the mouth and gums adjust themselves to the dentures, there should be no further alterations. No matter the type of denture you get, they all consist of the same basic steps, which are:

1. Impressions Are Taken Of Your Mouth To Create A Wax Mold
2. Models Are Then Made From A Stone-Like Material Called Gypsum To Create An Exact Replica
3. Then Placed Onto An Articulator, Which Simulates The Movement Of A Jaw, To Help Correctly Position The Teeth
4. Next, We Match The Color Of Your Teeth & Gums In Order To Replicate Your Natural Smile
5. Finally Your Dentures Are Constructed Of Metal (Base Only) & Covered With Acrylic Plastic
6. Lastly, You Will Try On The Full Or Partial Denture & We’ll Make Any Adjustments Needed

Wearing dentures in the beginning will feel as if something is unnaturally sitting in your mouth. The longer you wear them, the more comfortable you and your gums will get. As far as how they will look, dentists put a lot of focus towards making sure they look natural. In some cases, the dentures can even improve a patient’s smile. When it comes to eating with dentures, it will be a little difficult in the beginning, but painless. It is recommended that you start with soft foods and as time goes on, you can slowly progress with other types of foods. Try to stay away from foods that are hot, sharp, sticky, hard, etc. Speaking with dentures will be somewhat difficult and you might find yourself having trouble saying specific letters or words that you didn’t have issues with before. The only way to help this is with patience and practice by pronouncing words aloud to get used to saying them while your dentures are in. Within the first few weeks you may need to wear your dentures 24 hours a day, but everyone is different. Make sure to ask your dentist when you will be able to wear them only as needed.

If you would like to schedule a consultation to find out if dentures are necessary for you, please call our offices in Bharath Dental Clinic, at 7676719103 / 080-26540009 or click here to schedule an appointment online.

Yes, dental implants can be used to support cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. The cost is usually greater, but the implants and bridges more closely resemble the feel of real teeth. Dental implants are becoming the alternative to dentures but not everyone is a candidate for implants. Consult your dentist for advice

Every way you look at it, dental implants are a better solution to the problem of missing teeth.

• Esthetic: Dental implants look and feel like your own teeth! Since dental implants integrate into the structure of your bone, they prevent the bone loss and gum recession that often accompany bridgework and dentures. No one will ever know that you have a replacement tooth.
• Tooth-saving: Dental implants don’t sacrifice the quality of your adjacent teeth like a bridge does because neighboring teeth are not altered to support the implant. More of your own teeth are left untouched, a significant long-term benefit to your oral health!
• Confidence: Dental implants will allow you to once again speak and eat with comfort and confidence! They’ll allow you to say goodbye to worries about displaced dentures and messy denture adhesives.
• Reliable: The success rate of dental implants is highly predictable. They are considered an excellent option for tooth replacement.

• You’ve just received your new dentures. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a new denture wearer, we’re sure there are many questions which may need to be answered. We hope that the following information will prove to be helpful during the next few weeks of your denture adjustment period.


• Learning to wear a new denture can take time. Don’t become discouraged if you find some difficulty in the beginning. YOU’RE NOT ALONE! Please do not listen to friends who tell you how easy it was for them to get used to their dentures and how they can eat everything and anything. They are either bragging, have greater bone and gum support or their memories may be poor. Your dentist will help you through any difficulties you may face or any situations that may arise during your adjustment period.


• A lower denture usually takes more time to adjust to than an upper denture. The tongue may feel restricted and will tend to play, sometimes even subconsciously, with the new prosthesis. It will soon adapt to the restrictions and to the new feeling that a denture presents.


• It is natural to experience fullness of the mouth with new dentures. Expect to have excessive flow of saliva. At first you will have a feeling of looseness, especially the lower denture. You will adjust to it.


• Try to eat only soft foods for the first couple of days. Then, as you progress to more solid foods try to eat slowly and deliberately, attempting to place even amounts of food on both sides at the same time during the chewing cycle. By placing food on both sides of the mouth at the same time, you balance the biting forces on the new denture and will help to make it more stable. The longer you take to eat your meal, the faster you will learn to master your new prosthesis.


• Try to take small bites at first. Cut all your food into small portions. If, and when, your gum tissues are strong enough to try foods which are bitten off (bread, corn on the cob, etc.), try to press the food against the back teeth on the upper in order to stabilize the denture.


• It is perfectly normal to experience some discomfort associated with sore spots during the adjustment period. Nature did not intend for us to wear hard plastic against soft gum tissue. It takes a while for the gum tissues to firm up and to accommodate to the hard plastic denture.


• If sore spots should develop (and in some cases they do not), please be sure to wear the denture for at least 24 hours prior to your adjustment visit! If your dentist can’t see the sore spot visually, it is sometimes impossible for him to make the necessary adjustments.


• Reading aloud during the first couple of days will go a long way in reducing any minor speech problems which may result from wearing a new denture. If speech problems continue to persist, please let your dentist know.


• An unclean denture is neither healthy, attractive nor comfortable. Clean you new denture every morning and night with either a denture toothbrush and denture toothpaste ( if necessary, any toothpaste can be used ) or with one of the commercially available denture cleaners or soak them overnight in baking soda and water. Please be sure to check with your dentist to make sure that the commercial cleaner will not interfere with the type of denture liner you may have in your prosthesis. Permanent soft liners and temporary soft liners react poorly to most commercial cleaners.


• We prefer that you leave out both of your dentures at night. This allows your gum tissues to breathe and also relieves them of the constant pressures of mastication. When left out of the mouth, all dentures should be left in water to prevent warpage.


• Using excessive amounts of denture adhesive to retain ill-fitting dentures invites serious problems and more involved correction at a later date.


• Gum tissues are in a constant state of change but dentures are not. Therefore, periodic relining of your dentures may be necessary. If you find your denture getting looser and mastication more difficult, this may be a sign that a reline may be needed. It is very important for your dentist to see you regularly to evaluate the state of your oral tissues and to determine if additional treatment is required. Dentures typically need to be relined or remade every 3-5 years.


• NEVER try to adjust your dentures yourself ! Home remedies, although simple, will only lead to trouble.


• If any problems arise or if you have any additional questions, your dentist is available to help.