About dentures
Dentures can be a good solution for patients who are dealing with multiple missing teeth. Unlike single tooth replacements such as bridges or crowns, dentures can be made to replace a section of missing teeth. If you’re missing a few teeth in a row, partial dentures provide a good option. These types of partial dentures are designed to fill the spaces where teeth are missing, and prevent shifting or deterioration of the surrounding teeth.
Other patients need dentures for an entire upper or lower set of teeth. Sometimes, a full set of dentures on both top and bottom may be needed if a person has lost all or most of their teeth, through age, disease or extraction for any number of reasons. Each type of denture may be designed differently to suit the patient’s dental needs.
Getting dentures can return patients to a fuller life, allowing them to eat more foods, speak more clearly, and smile and laugh confidently. Dentures also fill out facial appearance, restoring a more youthful facial structure, as natural teeth would. All types of dentures aid in chewing, talking, and other daily activities involving the teeth, but the types of dentures available and how they are supported in the mouth differ depending on the patient.
What to expect with dentures
We provide a number of options for treatment with dentures designed to fit your unique dental and lifestyle needs.
Dentures are made from a variety of materials, depending on patient needs, but include materials like plastic, metal, porcelain and other ceramics. Modern dentures are crafted individually for each patient to closely fit where your natural teeth would be, to be comfortable on your gums, and to resemble your natural teeth. Some dentures are supported by dental implants, in which metal posts fixed into the jaw create a stable, secure foundation for permanent tooth replacements. Others are designed to detach from supportive implants for removal and cleaning. The traditional dentures, on the other hand, are fully removable and not anchored into the jaw at any point.
The process of fitting a denture includes diagnosis and an exam, possibly after other treatments like tooth extraction. Impressions will be taken of your bite, gums and existing teeth to make sure the dentures fit closely and function well. Sometimes, it’s necessary to wait for gums and bone to heal after surgery or trauma that necessitates the use of dentures. When you’re ready, we start with a try-in or trial denture made from your impressions. This try-in enables our dentists to be sure the fit is right for the individual patient. After this step, adjustments can be made to the final dentures to ensure the best fit. No matter what type of dentures you opt for, we always work with patients to make sure dentures fit as perfectly as possible.
Types of Dentures
Depending on the extent of your treatment plan, there are a few different types of dentures we may recommend.
- Temporary dentures can be worn immediately after tooth extraction and are created in advance of your dental surgery. This helps you maintain a natural smile and the ability to properly talk and chew while the bone and gums heal. Temporary dentures will be replaced by either complete or permanent dentures, depending on the patient.
- Partial dentures can be an ideal option when there are one or more missing teeth but complete dentures are not required. A partial denture device is created to match your natural teeth and can be easily supported by the surrounding teeth and removed.
- Complete dentures can be either “conventional dentures” or “immediate dentures” and are used when all of the teeth have been removed. A conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed and the tissue is healed. Whereas, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. A complete denture is a completely tissue-supported prosthesis and will be customized to be a comfortable fit that also gives you an aesthetically-pleasing smile with a natural tooth shade.
- Implant supported dentures are a good solution when multiple teeth need to be replaced and the patient prefers a more secure and natural-feeling replacement. With implant supported dentures, the denture is attached to dental implants which are permanently anchored in the jaw.
What Do New Dentures Feel Like?
No matter what route you go, a new denture or partial may feel a little odd or loose for a few weeks until the muscles of the cheeks and tongue learn to keep them in place and you get comfortable inserting and removing them. Also, it is not unusual for minor irritation or soreness to occur and for saliva flow to increase when you first start wearing dentures, but these problems will settle down as the mouth adjusts.
How to Care for Dentures
The best way to add longevity to your dentures is to properly care for them by removing them and rinsing them after eating, handling them carefully to avoid bending or breaking the material, cleaning them at least once daily with a soft bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive denture cleaner, and soaking them overnight.
If you’re missing a tooth and are interested in dentures, contact our office today.
It’s also important to your denture care plan to visit the dentist regularly to check the health of your natural teeth and gums and to also make sure your dentures are fitting comfortably. At Moore and Pascarella, we’re here to maintain the health of your teeth and gums and make sure you feel confident in your smile. Reach out to us today for help with your dentures in Red Bluff CA or Redding CA.
