What is a denture?
A denture is an acrylic device with fake teeth attached that we can place inside the mouth. It rests on top of the gum tissue and the bone, helping to restore your smile, your ability to eat, and your ability to speak well. Dentures are typically used when all of the teeth have been lost.
What type of dental professional should you see to discuss the option of dentures?
A dentist is by far the best individual to work through this process with you. We need to evaluate your overall health, how much bone you have, whether you have gag reflexes, and other factors to determine the best type of device for you and how to construct it.
When would a dentist recommend dentures?
A dentist would recommend dentures when all of your existing teeth have been lost or are so severely damaged that a good result cannot be achieved, regardless of the amount of money and surgery undertaken.
What are the other options beyond dentures?
There are several options beyond dentures:
- You can have the teeth removed and not restore anything, relying on your gums. This can provide moderately good nutrition, but it is not ideal. We prefer to restore your smile, speech, and facial contours with dentures.
- A fixed ceramic bridge can be used, where you have occasional implants with bridges attached to them. This is effective but expensive and requires continued home care. Many people who need dentures may not have maintained their teeth previously, and implants require improved home care to avoid similar issues.
- Implants can be placed in every tooth position to replace those teeth. This is extremely expensive, and often by the time dentures are considered, there isn't enough bone left in the upper and lower jaw to support implants in every position.
Are there different types of dentures?
Yes, there are different types of dentures:
- Suction Dentures: These are held in place simply by suction and the action of the cheeks and tongue.
- Implant-Retained Dentures: These dentures are fixed with implants, meaning you have implants in place, and the bridge is fixed to them and does not come out of the mouth. This option is very expensive because these dentures are typically all-porcelain.
- Acrylic Dentures with Removable Inserts: This is typically the best option for people. These dentures are fixed to implants with little removable inserts, meaning you can pop the denture out with some effort, clean everything, and then snap them back into place. They rest on the gums and bone tissue, but the implants prevent them from lifting out of place. This is the most successful way to fix an acrylic denture and make it feel like your natural teeth, and they are more affordable than all-porcelain fixed dentures.
What types of materials are used for standard dentures?
Dentures are made from a very hard, durable acrylic material. They often include a thin metallic mesh inside the denture, not visible from the outside, which adds durability and prevents fractures and failure as long as the denture is used correctly.
What are the steps to making a denture?
When done correctly, there are several steps over a few weeks to make the best-fitting denture for your mouth:
- Make sure all teeth are removed, and a certain amount of healing time has occurred for the tissues and bone to finish remodeling and changing position. This usually takes about three to six weeks from the time of tooth extraction.
- Take impressions of your gum tissue and bone.
- In a few small appointments, work back and forth with the laboratory to fine-tune details for a perfect fit.
- Before making the final denture, have a try-in appointment where you look at your denture set in wax on a platform to ensure you like the appearance and your jaw is positioned correctly.
- Finalize the denture and deliver it to you.
- Complete any necessary adjustments over a couple of weeks to a month or two to ensure the denture fits perfectly and comfortably inside your mouth.
Is getting dentures uncomfortable or painful?
When teeth are removed, there may be some residual discomfort, but there are many ways to stay comfortable during the process. Making the denture should be comfortable, as taking impressions is not uncomfortable when done correctly. Initially, the dentures should feel comfortable when placed, but the body may signal adjustments needed by developing small sore spots. Consistent contact with your dentist can make the process very comfortable with minimal discomfort.
Is it more difficult to speak with dentures?
There is a slight adjustment process as you learn to speak around the thin layers of acrylic and possibly fuller teeth than you've had for a while. If you have been missing teeth, you've learned to speak around those gaps, and you will similarly adjust to speaking with a full set of teeth and some extra material. It may take a couple of weeks, but it is generally not difficult, and people adjust well with a properly made set of dentures.
How do dentures affect your ability to eat and drink?
Drinking is not significantly affected. Eating requires some adjustments, as dentures rest on movable tissues. Cut food into smaller pieces and try to chew on both sides of the mouth simultaneously. Unless fixed with implants, dentures may not allow using front teeth to bite into dense objects, as they can place too much force on the upper denture held by suction and the lower denture held by friction.
What is the best way to take care of my dentures?
First, take them out at night to give your gum tissue and bone some rest. When you remove them, place them in lukewarm water and gently brush off any debris with a toothbrush. Put them in a liquid to soften debris, which you can brush off in the morning. Every other night, place them in an antibacterial rinse to kill any bacteria colonizing the denture's porosity.
How long will my dentures last?
This varies based on what you chew, whether you remove them at night, if you minimize clenching during the day, and how well you clean them. Adjustments may be needed as your bone changes to keep the fit right. With proper care, dentures can last a long time, even up to fifteen or twenty years, although they may show some wear.
How long will it take your mouth to get used to the new denture?
Most people experience a one to two-month adjustment period where the denture is fine-tuned, and you get used to it.