Dentures at White Mountain Dental
The loss of your teeth affects more than simply your ability to chew your food properly. When your teeth are missing, your jawbone can start to deteriorate. This can cause you to look older, and in turn can impact your confidence.
Missing teeth also change how you speak, making you more difficult to understand. You may even develop other health problems, such as TMD, because your joints and muscles are compensating for the loss of those teeth.
Dentures are replacement teeth. Depending on your needs and your health, we offer both traditional and implant-supported dentures. All of our dentures are custom-made to fit your unique needs.
Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures are removable; these can be either a whole set of teeth or a partial one. An adhesive is used to attach the dentures to your gums. These adhesives come in a variety of options: cream, powder, liquid, or strips.
Whatever adhesive you use, we recommend that you choose one that has been evaluated by the American Dental Association (ADA) to protect your health as well as the dentures.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are for people who have strong jawbones. The implant process includes surgically placing a rod into your jaw, which will provide the appropriate support for the dentures.
Your bone will go through a process called “osseointegration.” This means that your bone will grow around the rod to make it even stronger and more stable. Meanwhile, new teeth are made for you; these teeth will match the rest of your teeth in order to create a natural look.
Your replacement teeth will be placed when your implant is ready to support them, which only a professional can determine. These replacement teeth can either be dentures or permanent placements, depending on your unique needs.
Partial Dentures
If the patient has healthy teeth remaining, partial dentures can be a better option than full dentures. These are similar to a bridge but are removable. The new teeth fit around the remaining natural teeth, helping to keep them from shifting towards the gaps, which would cause new oral health problems. Partial dentures are often made of acrylic resin, which won’t wear down the natural teeth like porcelain will, but doesn’t last as long.
Dentures Take Some Getting Used To
For the first few weeks, until your tongue and cheek muscles learn how to keep them in place and you get used to inserting and removing them, your new dentures will likely feel strange. It is also normal to feel some soreness, minor irritation, and even an excess of saliva at first, but these problems should diminish with time.
Denture Care
Taking good care of your dentures is essential for getting the most out of them. It’s also important for your oral health.
- When handling your dentures, it’s a good idea to have a full sink of water or a folded towel ready in case they slip out of your hands.
- Dentures should be brushed daily to remove food and plaque, but don’t use toothpaste on them. Use a brush designed for cleaning dentures.
- Rinse dentures after every meal.
- Use a denture cleaner to clean your dentures. Hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid also works, but toothpaste and household cleaners are too abrasive. Bleach will whiten the pink part of the denture, so avoid it.
- If you use ultrasonic cleaners, make sure to still brush the denture.
- When not wearing dentures, they should be kept moist so they don’t dry out or lose their shape. Store them in cool water or a denture-soaking solution. We can recommend the best denture solution for your type of dentures.
Denture Repairs and Adjustments
You may need one or more follow-up appointments for adjustments after getting your dentures. Do not attempt to make adjustments or repairs on your own. Bending any part of the clasp or metal attachments will weaken them, and DIY denture repair kits can permanently damage dentures. Leave it to the professionals.
It’s important for dentures to fit properly. When they don’t, they can cause irritation and sores on the cheeks and gums. Get in touch with us if your dentures break, chip, crack, or one of the teeth becomes loose.
Replacing Old Dentures
Due to normal wear and tear and the changes our faces, jaws, and gums go through over time, dentures will eventually need to be rebased, relined, or even completely remade. If they are cared for properly, complete dentures should last up to seven years before you need replacements.
Caring for Your Mouth and Gums with Dentures
Even without teeth, we still need to brush twice a day. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean your gums, tongue, and palate before the dentures go in and after they come out. Doing so removes plaque and stimulates blood circulation. The teeth that fit under the denture’s metal clasps should receive special attention. Plaque can get trapped under the clasps and put those teeth in danger of tooth decay. Partial dentures should be removed before you brush your natural teeth.
Take good care of your gums. They need regular cleaning, rest, and massaging. A daily warm salt water rinse will help keep your gums clean, and a balanced diet is important for oral health as well.
For more information about partial or full dentures or to schedule a consultation, please call 425-773-4909 or email us. We also offer dental implants to patients who are good candidates. Make sure to check the map before you head our way!