Threemilestone Dental

Dentures are used to replace missing teeth. They are usually made from pink acrylic with resin teeth attached. They can also be made from metal (cobalt chrome).

Caring for your dentures

Patients have different needs so it is best to talk to your dentist about what type of dentures you need. Today dentures can be made to look how you want them to. The dentist will try to make them look and feel as natural as possible, by way of tooth size and colour. They are custom made to fit your mouth therefore should have a natural and comfortable fitting.

Advantages and Disadvantages

Dentures are a good way of replacing missing teeth without causing any damage to other teeth, through tooth preparation. They are also a relatively cheaper alternative to other more complex restoration treatments.

If you have not worn dentures before or for a long period of time, a new set can be relatively hard to wear. This can be overcome with a little time and perseverance and can produce quite satisfactory results. They can be quite difficult to place and remove, again needs time and practice.

Dentures at Night

Remove your dentures at night. This will allow the gums to recover from a days wear by allowing saliva to bathe the gums. Leaving partial dentures in at night can cause damage to other teeth. Where clasping is used to hold the denture in place, decay can be a problem around the site of the clasps.

Denture Adhesives

Even the best fitting denture may cause a problem. Upper dentures are usually held in place by suction within the mouth and the shape the cheeks will adapt to hold them in. This however is not always enough, so a denture adhesive is a useful way of helping this.

Lower dentures although comfortable when wearing can also feel slightly loose so an adhesive will help them feel more stable.

A denture adhesive can also be used as a daily lining to cushion them against the gums to prevent denture sore.

Pain with Dentures

When given your new dentures, you should not experience any pain, however on some occasions the denture may rub causing sore spots. It is important you visit your dentist if this is the case, as soon as possible to prevent the sore spot getting worse.

Do not remove the denture, as this will enable the dentist to see exactly where the problem is and allow him to carry out any necessary adjustments.

Immediate Dentures

These are made before tooth extractions and are fitted as soon as extraction has taken place. If this is the situation in your case you will be given an advice sheet on how to look after the sockets and allow them to heal. You will also be given advice on what to expect from your dentures. You may find that your denture needs adjusting after the initial healing has taken place, visit your dentist for this.

It is also likely after 6 months the dentures will need replacing. This is due to the mouth changing shape, again your dentist will advise you of this.

Replacing Old Dentures

It is inevitable that old dentures may need replacing due to wear and a change in the shape of the mouth. It is important to visit your dentist every year if you have complete dentures for a routine screening and to check and monitor the other teeth.

Confidence in your Dentures

Having new dentures can give you a new found freedom. They can give you more confidence when going out for meals or special functions. There is no need to feel afraid that your denture will drop or someone will notice them due to the technological advances occurring today. You may feel that using denture adhesives is a failure but this is not the case. A denture adhesive is just another way of holding the denture in place and if necessary should be used. It can also give that little extra support needed to make you feel comfortable when wearing your dentures. When eating for the first time with your dentures, your sense of taste can be affected, however this will return to normal after a few weeks of getting used to your dentures.

With a little time, effort and perseverance your new dentures can become part of you therefore giving you more confidence in them in, whatever you are doing.

So remember care for your denture and they will give you a good service in return and most importantly...

Enjoy your dentures!