Recover Your Smile with Full or Partial Dentures

Dentures

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth. They can be worn and removed easily. Depending on individual circumstances, a patient might require full or partial dentures. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures. Partial dentures are another option when not all of your teeth need to be removed. Partial dentures are similar to a bridge, but are not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

Full denture options

There are two types of full dentures:

• Immediate Full Dentures – Prior to having your teeth removed, your dentist takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. After removing the 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 the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heels. The dentures will need to be tightened after the jaw bone has healed.
• Conventional Full Dentures – This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed.

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 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.

Caring for dentures

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 – and 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.