Complete Dentures
Dentures are removable prosthetic appliances that can replace the form,
function and esthetics of missing teeth and help restore your smile.
Denture restores the health of patient because dentures make it easier to
eat and speak better than you could without teeth. Dentures also restore
the facial fullness for an edentulous patient who otherwise has sagging
facial muscles and an older look.
They can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your
appearance does not change much. Dentures may even improve the look of your
smile.
Types of dentures:
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Conventional Dentures
: These are the most commonly made dentures in any dental office. This
denture is typically made and inserted in patient’s mouth after all the
teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take several
months.
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Immediate Denture:
This is a special type of denture, which is given to patient on the
same day that the remaining teeth are removed. Your dentist will take
measurements and make models of your jaw during a preliminary visit.
The main advantage is that you have to never be without teeth during
the healing period, but may need to have the denture relined or remade
after your jaw has healed as the jaw bone shrinks significantly during
healing.
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Implant Supported Overdenture
: Implant overdentures are the standard of care these days. Implants in
upper and lower jaw provide great stability and support for the
removable dentures. An overdenture fits over a couple implants with
special attachments that have been prepared by your dentist. Implants
serve as anchors for the dentures to snap on and off thereby increasing
the quality of life.
It’s quite normal to have minor discomfort for someone trying on their new
set of dentures but it will take a few weeks to be accustomed to them.
Follow-up appointments with the dentist are generally needed after a
denture is inserted so the fit can be checked and adjusted. If any problem
persists, particularly irritation or soreness be sure to consult your
dentist.
Practice of good dental hygiene is important even with dentures. It’s
important to brush gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a
soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate
circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.
Like our teeth, dentures should also be brushed daily to remove food debris
and plaque. Brushing also can help keep the teeth from accumulating stain.
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Rinse dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris.
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Use a denture brush to gently scrub off the food debris from all the
surfaces of the dentures without getting scratched.
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When brushing, clean your mouth thoroughly including your gums, cheeks,
roof of your mouth and tongue to remove any plaque. This can help
reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath.
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Dentures should not be worn during sleep as they cause airway
obstruction and will not allow the gums to revive.
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When dentures are not being used, they need to be store under water to
prevent warping and shrinkage.
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Occasionally, denture wearers may use adhesives. Adhesives come in many
forms: creams, powders, pads/wafers, strips or liquids. If you use one
of these products, read the instructions, and use them exactly as
directed.
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Denture can also help improve your speech. If you find it difficult to
pronounce certain words, practice reading out loud. Repeat the words
that give you trouble. With time, you will become accustomed to
speaking properly with your complete denture.
Schedule regular dental checkups to get the dentures and soft tissue
evaluated.