Dentures & Partial Dentures
A denture is a removable dental appliance and a replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile.
Just in case you don’t know, a denture is a removable dental appliance that’s used to replace the missing teeth and surrounding tissue. In other words, if you want to treat your missing teeth, you must talk to your dentist about the dentures.
The best thing about a denture is that it closely resembles your natural teeth, so it looks like your own natural teeth and it will also enhance your smile.
Primarily, there are two types of dentures – complete & partial dentures.
When you want to replace all of your missing teeth, you need a complete denture while partial dentures are using to replace some of the missing teeth only. Another thing to note here is that a partial denture not only fills in the space developed by missing teeth, it also prevents other teeth from shifting.
A complete denture can be either “conventional” or “immediate.”
A complete denture is typically made after the patient’s teeth have been removed and the area has healed for four to six weeks (the usual waiting time to allow gum tissue to grow back). In the meantime, patients will go without teeth.
Immediate dentures are made in advance so that they can be placed immediately after teeth are removed. This prevents the patient from having to be without teeth during the period of healing, which can take a few weeks or months. Adjustments may have to be made once the tissues shrink and heal.
Dentures are very durable appliances and will last many years but may have to be remade, repaired, or readjusted due to normal wear.
Reasons for dentures:
- Complete Denture – Loss of all teeth in an arch.
- Partial Denture – Loss of several teeth in an arch.
- Enhancing smile and facial tissues.
- Improving chewing, speech, and digestion.
What does getting dentures involve?
Getting dentures requires a lot of time & attention. The whole process may take a few weeks or sometimes months.
First, an impression (a mold) is taken in order to make your measurements for the denture. During this process, an appointment is required for every new mold. Afterwards, there will be several try-in appointments to ensure that the shape, color, and fit are perfect before your dentures are finalized.
The final appointment with your dentist is an emotional one. Once your dentures have been created, your dentist will go through and make sure that each tooth has been re-created to perfection. The end result is natural, comfortable dentures that look just like your own teeth.
Special note
New dentures may feel uncomfortable in the beginning. It is normal to experience soreness and increased saliva flow, but this will subside over time. Be patient as your body gets used to the new dentures as your muscles and tissues will adjust to the change.
After treatment
You will be given care instructions for your new dentures by your dentist. The most important thing you can do is to keep them clean and avoid making any alterations in your diet. Good oral hygiene and regular check-ups with your dentist are also part of the upkeep. With proper cleaning and good dental habits, your denture can last a very long time.
