How do dentures work?
Dentures are able to replace multiple missing teeth or even all of your teeth! Modern dentures are a natural-looking restoration that may be a great option for some patients.
Creating Your New Denture
If you have any teeth that need to be extracted before your denture is created, your dentist will send you to an oral surgeon for extraction. While your extraction sites heal, you will have a temporary denture that will protect the site while it heals and give you the appearance of a complete smile. Once you are fully healed, your dentist will take an impression of your upper and lower jaws to make a model for the dental lab.
The models your dentist sends to the lab will help the lab technician make sure that your denture will fit your mouth and will match your bite properly. Dentures are fabricated using an acrylic base with porcelain teeth. The base will be tinted to match your gum tissue and the porcelain teeth will match your natural teeth.
Your dentist will have you come in for an appointment to have your new denture set once they receive your case back from the lab. Your dentist will make any adjustments that need to be made to make sure your denture is snug but not too tight as to cause sores. If the fit is simply not right, your dentist will send the denture back to the lab for adjustments or even to be completely redone.
Be patient with your new denture! You will have to become a custom to your new restoration and learn how to speak, bite, and chew which could take a few weeks. If your denture is too tight, it can rub sores on your gums so make sure to take note of the fit every day and call your dentist if you think you need an adjustment.
Longevity of Dentures
Dentures have the ability to last 10 years or more with proper care and maintenance. It is important to visit your dentist regularly, even if you do have a full denture, to make sure that your gum tissue is healthy and that the denture is fitting you properly. If you have a partial denture, it is just as important to see your dentist as regularly as you did before your denture. You want to keep as many natural teeth as you can so visit your dentist at least twice a year to make sure everything is healthy!
Your dentist will teach you how to care for your new denture so that you were able to have it as long as possible. Some instructions may include:
- Brush your gum tissue twice daily to stimulate blood flow and remove any food particles
- Keep your denture from drying out by storing it in a glass of room temperature water or denture-soaking solution when you are not wearing it
- Brush your denture thoroughly every day with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove the particles, plaque buildup, and to prevent staining. Clean your denture over a soft surface in case you drop them.
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