Dentures

Those who want to get dentures, already using them, or know someone having them, it’s likely that you may have some questions about them.

Our prosthodontic team at Smiline will help you find the answers to all your denture queries and to find out, if necessary, whether dentures might be right for you.

What are dentures?

Dentures (also known as false teeth) are replacements for missing teeth that can be removed and placed back into your mouth.Tooth loss whether it is due to Gum disease,tooth decay or injury our facial muscles tend to sag making us look older. Replacing them with dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile, restore your smile back and make it easier to chew and speak.

People considering getting dentures can feel it to be a little intimidating at first, but with the right solution, they can transform your life for the better.

What are different types of dentures?

Several options of dentures can be offered based on different materials, patient circumstances and clinical conditions.

Are you getting dentures fabricated for the first time? We are here to help you.

If the time has come, that the best decision is to extract your some or all of your remaining teeth, you will likely require an immediate denture also called as temporary denture. Meaning the denture is inserted immediately after all the teeth have been removed.

For this process, the denture is made before removing all your remaining teeth and placed on the same day of extraction.

With this technique, the denture wearer does not have to go without teeth during healing period (usually 6 to 8 weeks).

During the healing period, gums and bone supporting the teeth will re-contour to a smaller size, as the tooth socket fills in causing the denture to become loose.

Once healing is complete the dentures need to be relined or sometimes a new denture needs to be fabricated to assure a comfortable and accurate fit.

A conventional complete denture is given after all remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed.

Healing may take around 6 to 8 weeks, during which time you are without teeth.

They are made of acrylic resin. Fabrication of complete denture is an elaborate and technique sensitive procedure which requires 5 to 7 visits.

The denture rests against the gums and roof of your mouth. A thin film of saliva makes a seal to hold the denture in place.

Do you still have few, but not all, of your natural teeth?

A removable partial denture is given when one or more natural teeth are missing.

They are often used instead of other tooth replacement options when the surrounding natural teeth are not strong enough to support structures such as dental bridges.

They also prevent drifting of remaining teeth into adjacent or opposing arches and causing further dental issues.

Partial dentures are made using a metal cast-frame and acrylic or completely out of acrylic.

They are stabilized in the mouth by using metal clasps that are carefully adapted around the natural teeth.

Flexible dentures are a type of partial denture, but they are made of different materials compared to traditional partial dentures.

They are usually made of a thin thermoplastic such as nylon, compared to the thicker, more rigid acrylic used in full dentures.

Benefits over traditional partial dentures

  • Improved comfort - Flexible partial dentures are thin, lightweight, resistant to fracture and stay securely in place hence you may find them to be more comfortable than other removable partials, especially if you’re still new to wearing dentures.
  • Biocompatible – They can be used as an alternative for people who are allergic to acrylic.
  • Aesthetics – Most partial dentures have metal parts which can sometimes show giving an unaesthetic look; where as flexible dentures look realistic as they do not have any metal clasps.

The results of the flexible partial dentures are beautiful, and patient satisfaction is high.

The drawback with the conventional dentures is that the first denture was usually satisfactory but due to continuous bone loss in the jaw, dentures repeatedly lose their fit and become more loose over time.Generally the troublemaker of the loose conventional dentures is the lower denture that can cause frustration in staying in place and sore spots.

The good news is that you have a few choices to improve upon this like overdentures.

Few teeth are saved sometimes to preserve jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture.

An overdenture is a type of denture fitted over or attached to a small number of remaining natural teeth or implants.

It usually requires two or more implants to stabilize an overdenture. The denture is then made and secured to these implants. They are more comfortable than conventional dentures.

However not everyone is suitable for dental implants.A good candidate for Denatl Impalnts is one with good general health and sufficient bone to support the implants. You can find out from your dentist at Smiline if you are a good candidate for implants.

Benefits over conventional dentures

  • Improved chewing efficiency - Enable you to efficiently chew a variety of foods contributing to your overall health.
  • Regain self-confidence - Overdentures help maintain bone level and support facial structures, keeping you look younger giving all-round confidence.
  • Avoid the inconvenience and expense of adhesives – The dentures that are held-in with adhesives can easily dislodge, can tamper with your taste buds. With overdentures, you don’t need any messy adhesives, which avoids the associated cost and inconvenience.
  • Minimal sore spots - Overdentures fit more snugly than those held in place just by suction and adhesives improving the stability of dentures reducing mouth sores.
  • Improve quality of life - In improving the appearance of your smile and speech and chewing function, overdentures can enhance your physical and psychological health.

If you are very quality-conscious and concerned about your dentures looking natural and that are also affordable, then BPS ® dentures are right for you.

BPS® (Biofunctional Prosthetic System) commonly referred to as ‘BPS Denture’ is a system of professional expertise and quality products that are the standard for comfort, function and aesthetics.

BPS dentures has transformed the way we see dentures. These dentures can be customized to meet your individual requirements.

Sophisticated materials and instrumentation (different from conventional) are used to record all your masticatory movements and facial information, to recreate the character of your smile, to restore the natural contour of your lips and facial muscles and to simulate correct jaw movement and function.

Unique Ivoclear teeth, which mimic natural tooth are used.

The cooperation between the dentist and technician enables the optimum analysis of patients expectations which are used for the fabrication creating a natural looking BPS dentures.

Benefits:

  • Highly aesthetic – natural, life-like dentures that recreate the character of your smile
  • Great comfort and fit - reduced irritation to the gums and comfortable to wear
  • Great strength – extremely dense material used to improve strength
  • Easy Maintenance – non porous surface greatly lessens plaque accumulation

What to expect:

  • New dentures may feel uncomfortable or awkward for the first few weeks. You may also find increase in saliva flow temporarily. As you get accustomed to the dentures, these problems should go away.
  • It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness for the first week or two. Hence, after a denture is inserted, follow-up appointments with the dentist are generally needed so the fit can be checked and any adjustments required can be done to make you more comfortable.
  • Some practice is required while inserting and removing the denture. Dentures should fit into place with relative ease. Never force the denture into position by biting down especially in case of partial dentures, this can cause bending or breaking of the clasps and can be harmful to the tissues.
  • You will also need to practice eating with your dentures.This can be achieved by following these guidelines-
    • Begin by eating soft foods that are cut into small pieces
    • Chewing simultaneously on both sides of the mouth to keep the pressure even.
    • Avoid eating sticky or hard foods.
  • Initially you may find it difficult to pronounce certain words, practice reading out loud and repeating tricky words in front of a mirror. Repeat the words that give you trouble. Talk slowly to prevent muffled speech.
  • You should remove your dentures at night to allow your gums and bone to relax from the pressure of the denture during the day. And also leaving your dentures overnight regularly can lead to a build-up of bacteria, and may result in bad breath. This way, you'll be able to remove any bacteria or plaque on them.

Your New Smile

You are the key to your success. These following tips will help:

  • Be patient. Give yourself enough time till you get used to your dentures.
  • Eat a proper balanced diet for good health.
  • Practice eating and speaking with your denture.
  • Visit your dentist regularly.
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