DENTURES

Complete Denture

Complete dentures are for patients who have no natural teeth remaining in either the upper or lower jaw. Upper full dentures fit securely on the upper jaw and are held in by suction from the palate. Lower full dentures gain stability between the cheeks, tongue, and surrounding muscles.

Partial Denture

Partial dentures are used to replace one or more missing teeth. This is intended to restore both aesthetics and their function.  The partial denture uses clasps around remaining natural teeth to hold the denture in place. 

Wearing your new dentures…

It will take time to adjust to the new dentures. It is not possible to say how long, as people take different amounts of time to adjust.  Generally, over time the aim is for the denture to become comfortable and functional.

Speaking – At first there may be some difficulty with speaking.  It is recommended to practice talking at home in front of a mirror.  Over time, you will learn how to talk with your denture in. 

Eating – As with speech, eating takes time and practice to master the denture.  It is helpful to cut foods into small pieces to begin with. 

Caring for dentures…

 

  • Clean denture twice a day with a soft toothbrush and water or dish soap. Toothpaste is not required as it can be abrasive causing scratches and staining.

  • Remove denture every night before going to sleep. This not only eliminates bacteria in the denture, but allows the tissues in the mouth to breathe, preventing fungal infections.

  • Soak denture once a week in diluted vinegar or with specific denture cleaning tablets for half an hour only.  This will help reduce fungal growths.

  • Make an appointment if any sore spots develop or there are other concerns you would like to address.

Denture follow up…

 

Regular check ups for the denture is a necessity, dentures do not last forever and need to be maintained and serviced. Maintenance of soft tissues, gums and any remaining teeth is vital to maintain the stability of the denture. 

Older dentures will often require a reline. The bone in the mouth is constantly changing and can cause the denture to not fit as well over time. When this happens, a simple reline may improve the fit.

Discuss with the dentist if excessive amounts of food is getting trapped under the denture, or if the denture feels loose.