Dentures

Crowns

Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth and replaced with a full set of dentures. There are two types of full dentures. Most patients opt for the Immediate full dentures since you will leave the office after extractions with a new set of teeth.

Conventional Full Dentures – This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the dentures are placed. It could take a few week to months for the gum tissue to heal completely, and during this time you will be without teeth.

Immediate Full Dentures – Prior to having your teeth removed, we take measurements, bite registrations and impressions as well as shade selection. After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth and act as a band aid while healing. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. Several follow up appointments are to be expected with an immediate denture and any sore spots should be attended to as soon as possible. You will need to have a follow up visit in 3-6 months to reline your dentures because the jaw bone and gums will change shape as your mouth heals.

Your dentures may take some time to get used to. Most people adjust in about two weeks to having the bulk of a denture in their mouth. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don’t have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. Denture adhesives will aid in the loose feelings and provide stability for eating until a denture reline is done after the healing phase. Many people need to learn to talk and eat again once they get dentures. Practicing speaking in front of a mirror helps with speech and eating is a learned process. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative than not having teeth.

Even though dentures are not real teeth they still require care. You should brush them with water and a brush to remove plaque and food particles. Regular cleaning with a product like efferdent is highly recommended. Always store dentures in room temperature water. It is recommended that you remove the dentures at night. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don’t drop them. If you do happen to drop them and they break please call immediately and do not try to glue the yourself. A broken denture is often easily repaired but may require an expensive replacement if you attempt a home repair and damage is done to the acrylic. 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.