When an individual has lost their teeth, they may experience a number of issues with regard to the function and appearance of their mouth. They may experience reduced self-esteem in their smile, have difficulty with speaking, and problems with eating certain foods. A denture is a custom-made, removable replacement appliance for missing teeth, gums, and surrounding oral tissue. Dentures restore both the appearance and functions of the mouth previously lost due to missing teeth or teeth that were previously removed.
Dentures can either be a full denture or a partial denture. Full dentures are used when all of the patient’s teeth are missing, while a partial denture is chosen when only a partial amount of the teeth are gone. Find our how dentures from our Gainesville, FL, dentists with Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry can benefit your oral health, function, and appearance! Contact us today to schedule a denture appointment and to learn more about our available general dentistry services.
There are multiple different dentures types: full dentures, partial dentures, and overdentures or implant dentures. Our dentists will work with you to identify the ideal type of denture for your needs and preferences. Contact our dental office today to schedule your appointment,
Full dentures, also known as complete dentures, are ideal for patients who have had all of their natural teeth removed. When patients have to remove all of their teeth, immediate dentures are placed, so no one ever has to walk around without teeth. This contrasts with conventional dentures, which is places in 8–12 weeks after teeth removal. Once placed, your immediate dentures are adjusted as your tissue and jaw bone heal and change to accommodate the new appliance. Once your gums and surrounding tissue are healed, the dentures are then realigned to provide you with a more ideal fit.
Partial dentures are ideal for patients who have large gaps in between their teeth due to several missing teeth. Partial dentures are used when one or more of the natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Partial dentures are similar to bridges, but they are removable, and are commonly known as removable partial dentures. Partial dentures can be made using a framework of metal or another material. Not only do partial dentures filled in the gaps created by missing teeth, but they also serve to prevent shifting and changes in position of surrounding, natural teeth. Contact us to learn more about partial dentures.
Dentures are not anchored to the jaw bones, which means they can become loose over time. The use of dental implants helps to maintain the integrity of jaw bone and increase the function of your dentures by securing them to your jaw bone. These appliances are commonly referred to as implant-supported dentures or permanent dentures. Overdentures offer a greater amount of stabilitiy and structure than traditional dentures using adhesive. With overdentures, your dentist surgically places implants into your upper or lower jaw, which act as teeth roots. The dentist then spas partial dentures or full dentures onto the implants.
There are many reasons why a patient may need full dentures or partial dentures. Patients may need dentures due to gaps between their teeth, unstable teeth, chronic toothaches, gums that are swollen or inflamed, one or more missing teeth, difficulty with eating or speaking, oral trauma, gum disease, dental emergencies, or other oral conditions. Are dentures right for you?
Dentures from Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry can provide the following benefits.
Depending on the specific need of each patient, alternatives to dentures may be available to replace lost teeth. A dental implant can be used to support a cemented dental bridge, which can eliminate the need for a denture. While this alternative may be more costly, dental bridges and implants typically more closely resemble the look and feel of natural teeth and can be made to match existing, surrounding teeth. While dental implants can be a great alternative to dentures, not every patient is a candidate for teeth implants. Teeth implants can also be placed in order to support dentures, creating a more stable and comfortable mouth feel. Consult our dentists about your options and whether or not dentures, bridges, or implants are right for you.
The creation and development of a denture prosthesis typically takes multiple weeks and several appointments with our dentists in Gainesville to complete. Once your dentist determines the most appropriate type of appliance for your needs, they will make a series of impressions of your jaw as well as take measurements of how your upper jaw relates to your lower jaw and the amount of space between them.
Then, they may create models, wax forms, or plastic modules in the precise shape and position of the denture to be created. You will try on this model multiple times, wherein the denture will be inspected for color suitability, shape, and fit before the final denture appliance is cast. Next, the final denture is casted and provided to you. Any adjustments will then be made as necessary. For more information about the denture-making process, contact our dental office.
After getting new dentures, your mouth may feel odd and your new dentures a little loose for the first few weeks, until your tongue and cheek muscles adapt to keeping your dentures in place. During this time, you will also grow comfortable with inserting and removing your dentures. It is not unusual for a minor amount of irritation or soreness to occur and for your saliva production to increase as you first start wearing your dentures, though these issues will diminish once your mouth fully adjusts to them. Dentures are custom-made to appear remarkably similar to your natural teeth, so there should be little noticeable change in your appearance. In fact, your new dentures can even serve to improve your smile and the overall appearance of your face.
After getting dentures, you may experience problems with pronouncing certain words. If this is the case, practice saying the difficult words out loud. With time, you will become used to speaking properly with your dentures. If you experience a clicking sound while you speak or if your dentures cause any persistent speaking issues, then contact our dentists. Another routine task you may have to adjust to with dentures is eating. Eating with dentures takes some practice and may be uncomfortable for a few weeks. Start with eating soft foods cuts into small pieces and chew slowly using both sides of your mouth. Be careful with foods that are hard or hot as well as sharp-edged bones or shells and avoid consuming foods that are extremely sticky or hard. Do not chew gum or use toothpicks while wearing your denture.
Daily maintenance of your dentures is required in order to prevent the growth of bacteria and avoid permanent staining. It is important to treat your dentures as though they are real teeth to keep them bright and free of plaque. If your dentures break or crack, schedule an appointment right away. Ill-fitting dentures can irritate the gums and other areas of the mouth, leading to infection. Watch our home maintenance for dentures video to learn more.
Patients should always remove their dentures before sleeping in order to avoid damaging them or disloging them and to give their gums adequate time to heal. After removal, submerge dentures completely in warm (not hot) water to keep them from drying out or from becoming misshapen. Only use denture soaking solution if your dentures do not feature any metal pieces, as the solution can tarnish the metal on these dentures. For more information about denture preservation methods and tips, please contact Van Dyke General and Implant Dentistry.
