Dentures

Replacing missing teeth with dentures is important for maintaining the aesthetics of your face. Without the structure of the teeth as support, your cheeks & jaw may start to sag, leading to a more aged appearance.

Senior Couple SmilingWith full or partial dentures, you will have your smile back & will regain chewing & biting ability, giving you the chance to enjoy foods that you may have had to avoid when you were missing teeth.

While dentures are an effective replacement for your teeth when it comes to the appearance of your smile & your face, when it comes to function, they are a prosthetic replacement. Just like someone with a prosthetic limb may have limited function compared to a real limb, dentures function differently from natural teeth. The stability of dentures varies from person to person, so the variety of foods that denture-wearers are able to eat also varies. The dentist can go over what foods you should avoid or eat differently (such as cutting meats into smaller pieces for ease of chewing). Speaking while wearing dentures sometimes takes getting used to, especially when forming “s” or “th” sounds. Any speech difficulty usually passes with practice.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures consist of a plastic base that is molded & colored to look like your gums. The teeth attached to this base are most often made from a plastic acrylic. The color of both the gums & tooth parts of dentures are customized in order to ensure they look as natural as possible in your mouth.

Dentures are false teeth for someone who is missing some or all of their teeth. Depending on how many teeth are missing, dentures can come with a full set of teeth or a partial set meant to fill in gaps between any remaining teeth.

Dentures on your top jaw typically cover the ridge of bone where your teeth used to be & the roof of your mouth (what dentists call the palate). Top dentures are held in place by suction between the palate & the denture. Because there is less for them to hold on to (no palate), dentures on your bottom jaw are not quite as secure & may take a little more getting used to.

Full Dentures

Full dentures attach to your gums through suction between the roof of your mouth (what dentists call the palate) & the denture. Because there is less for them to hold on to (no palate), dentures on your bottom jaw are not quite as secure & may take a little more getting used to.

Partial Dentures

If you are missing several teeth on either your upper or your lower jaw, partial dentures can help restore your smile & its function. Partial dentures are made from a framework of metal & acrylic (plastic), or acrylic & nylon that are colored to match your natural teeth & gums. Clasps, either metal or plastic, hug your remaining teeth to keep the denture in place. Each partial denture is custom-made using a model of your mouth so they fit very well. Partial dentures can help you speak more normally & help you get a lot of your chewing capability back.

Implant-Supported Dentures

Often done in a single visit, mini dental implants are the new & low-cost way to secure your dentures, at less than half the cost of traditional dental implants! Even patients who have been told they aren’t candidates for traditional implants may benefit from mini implants. In some cases, your existing dentures can be used, making the procedure that much more affordable.

Procedure Overview

The procedure for getting dentures is fairly simple but may take multiple appointments. First, your dentist takes a mold or scan of your gums & any remaining teeth. From this mold we will make a model of your mouth so that we can create a denture that fits every small ridge or contour of your jawbone & gums. Your dentist will invite you back to try on your dentures & make sure they fit comfortably & securely. If the fit is good, you will be able to wear your new dentures home. If not, the dentist will make adjustments until it’s right.

Aftercare

Caring for your dentures is incredibly important — just as important as caring for natural teeth. Both full & partial dentures are removable & it is not recommended that they be worn at night. This gives your gums a chance to rest & allows your saliva to naturally lubricate your gums & the rest of your mouth. Dentures need to be cleaned overnight using special denture toothpaste & a soft-bristled toothbrush or denture brush. Be careful when cleaning not to drop your dentures on a hard surface; this is a frequent cause of denture breakage. We recommend laying out a towel or filling the sink basin with water while you clean your dentures. Dentures should be soaked overnight in a denture solution to keep them moist as drying out may cause brittleness.

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