Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth.

When you are missing teeth and your jaws are not suitable for implants, dentures can provide a cost-effective option for restoring your smile.

Complete dentures completely replace teeth on the upper or lower arch. Partial dentures replace missing teeth when the patient still has some remaining teeth by clasping on to natural teeth.

A denture can be custom made to suit your needs, whether it is replacing a single tooth or all of them. If you currently wear a denture that is loose or ill-fitting, often simple modifications can be made to improve the fit and make it more comfortable.

A removable partial denture fills in the space created by missing teeth and fills out your smile. A denture helps you to properly chew food, a difficult task when you are missing teeth. In addition, a denture may improve speech and prevent a sagging face by providing support for lips and cheeks.

Dentures require several steps, as well as several visits to the office to complete, as well as for adjusting the denture for the best possible fit. A typical full or partial denture takes about 4-5 weeks for the full process to be complete.

Step 1: Your dentist will take an impression of your gums. If you need extractions before creating your denture, your dentist will wait until your gums have healed before taking the impressions.

Step 2: Wax rims are placed in the mouth to establish a proper bite and orientation (occlusion) of the teeth. Patients can then select the size, shape and shade of the teeth for the denture. Your dentist will help you to make this selection, but we also recommend having someone who knows you very well help make the selection. Your dentist will send the impressions, as well as the selection for shape, size and shade to a dental lab.

Step 3: Try-In: This is a critical step in the denture process. The dental lab will send a mock-up of your denture, which includes a set of pre-made plastic teeth, set in wax, to make sure you are happy with the general colour, look, fit and feel of the denture. If any changes are needed, additional try-in appointments may be necessary. Once the denture is made to your satisfaction, the try-in denture will be sent back to the lab to create the final denture. At 1st Family Dental, we will always help to make sure you are pleased with your denture, and that it looks and feels as natural as possible. However, this is an important and final decision, and we strongly support bringing a spouse or friend who knows you well, and who will give you honest feedback about how the denture looks so you can make your selection with the greatest amount of confidence.

Step 4: This is the fitting of your final denture. The lab has now processed the premade teeth into a hard, tissue coloured acrylic base. If necessary, your dentist will make adjustments to the fit and the bite, and you may need to return to the office if you experience any sore spots or issue within the next few weeks to have the denture adjusted.

If you need a tooth extraction, your dentist may recommend an immediate denture which is also sometimes referred to as a “practice denture.” Patients often wear these to help them get used to having dentures, and also as a temporary replacement during the extraction healing process which can sometimes take weeks or months. Your dentist will take an impression of your teeth prior to the extraction and these impressions will be used by a dental lab to create your denture. With an immediate denture, your denture will be ready to wear right after your extractions have been completed. Immediate dentures typically require adjustment and relining, because they were made before any extractions, which can change the shape of your gums and jaw.

-Don't let dentures dry out – place them in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in plain water when you're not wearing them. Never use hot water, which can cause dentures to warp.

-Brush your dentures – brushing dentures daily will remove food and dental plaque, and help prevent them from becoming stained.

-Take care of your mouth – brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert dentures. This stimulates circulation in your tissues and helps remove plaque.

-Consult your dentist – see your dentist if dentures break, chip, and crack or become loose. Don't be tempted to adjust them yourself — this can damage them beyond repair.

-Keep your dentures in tiptop shape
Don’t skip out on oral hygiene; use one of our toothpastes to keep your dentures in good shape.

Generally, dentures should be worn during waking hours, and removed only at night for cleaning and storage. The more you wear your denture, the more quickly you will adapt and adjust to having them. Upper dentures usually fit snugly using natural suction. The lower denture may feel looser because of the shape of the jaw and other factors. You may need to use adhesive to hold your denture firmly in place after a few weeks, but if you experience persistent issues with sore spots or the fit and feel of a denture you had delivered by a dentist at 1st Family Dental, you are always welcome to come in for a free evaluation and adjustment.

Having dentures takes time to get used to and requires patience, practice, and persistence for patients to feel comfortable and at-ease. Some common adjustments include:

Speaking: You may find that you have difficulty enunciating certain words and making some sounds. This is perfectly normal, and with some practice and patience, you will be back to speaking normally and comfortably.

Eating: You will need to get used to using a side-to-side motion to chew your food, rather than an up and down motion. This also takes practice and persistence to master. Many people who have dentures have found they can generally eat the foods they were able to eat before, especially when making small adaptations such as cutting food into smaller pieces to make it easier to chew.

Physical Appearance: Dentures are an alternative for the absence of teeth, and are made of plastic and acrylic. This means that in general they look and feel different than a dental bridge, for example.

Other issues that may arise with a full or partial denture can include food getting under the denture, loose dentures, or a general feeling of fullness in your mouth. Typically, these issues will clear up with future adjustments, along with practice and time to adapt to your denture.

Overdentures
In some cases, 4 or more dental implants may be placed in the jaw. A denture is made that fits over the healing implants, so you are able to wear your dentures during the healing period. Once these implants have healed, the denture can be adjusted to clip directly onto the dentures. The dentures are held firmly in place until you are ready to remove them.

In addition to a major improvement in the comfort, fit, and feel of an implant/overdenture combination, dental implants help to slow or even stop the progression of bone loss over time.

Bridge Over Implants
Some patients have either had multiple implants placed, or continued to add dental implants, one by one. Dental bridges and crowns can then be created, with a series of fixed (non-removable) bridges that look and act like regular teeth.

A removable partial denture or bridge usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-coloured plastic base, which is sometimes connected by metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw.

Many commercial types of toothpaste can damage dentures. Instead, use a soft-bristle denture brush, designed specifically for cleaning dentures, and water to brush all surfaces of the dentures, but be careful not to bend any attachments.

Whether you wear full or partial dentures, taking them out at night for sleeping gives the gums and other denture-bearing tissues a chance to rest, recover and receive beneficial exposure to the antibacterial agents naturally present in saliva. In short, removing your dentures at night is the healthiest thing to do

How Long Will It Take to Adjust to New Dentures? In general, it takes about 30 days to get used to wearing dentures. One should have a little patience during this time, as learning to eat and speak again can be a challenge. Expect some soreness to persist at first, especially if you've had tooth extractions

It's completely normal to experience gum pain or discomfort in the first few weeks of wearing new dentures. ... This is likely the result of your dentures rubbing against your gums or not fitting properly. Here are a few things you can try to help relieve your denture pain and live more comfortably.

Dentures will, eventually, need to be replaced, but with the proper care, they can last several years. In general, dentists recommend getting new dentures every five to eight years. Over this time, dentures get worn out due to regular use, and your gums may change shape or shrink over the years.

Eat soft foods.
Take small bites of soft foods, such as eggs and yogurt.
Don't eat anything sticky.
Chew your food slowly.
When you chew, use both sides of your mouth at the same time. This prevents your dentures from moving forward or tipping.

They may be uncannily close to natural or they may be simply unnatural in appearance, but either way they don't look like a natural, beautiful smile. Dentures don't have to look fake. When properly made, dentures can be very natural in appearance.

While well – made dentures may hurt the first time they are placed in the mouth – continued pain should not be considered “normal”. So let's start with why even well-made dentures may hurt the first time the dentist puts them in your mouth.

Described as a good, aesthetically attractive tooth, VITAPAN® PLUS acrylic anterior denture teeth have a natural appearance. The VITA MRP (micro filler reinforced polyacrylic) material used in the denture teeth provides low abrasion values. The teeth are available in VITA Vihaan classical shades.

Chewing gum can help with saliva production. "Finding the brand that works best with your particular denture is a matter of trial and error," say Dr. Hewlett. Wrigley's Freedent gum is one popular pick among denture wearers.

A full denture rests on your gum and replaces all your teeth on your upper or lower jaw, or both.
A partial denture replaces some teeth and is held in place by clasps around your remaining teeth.

Types of Dentures Explained and what is best for you
Partial dentures. ...
Custom dentures. ...
Immediate dentures. ...
Implant supported dentures. ...
Snap-in dentures. ...
Overdentures. ...
Upper dentures. Upper dentures are just that—-dentures for the upper teeth. ...
Economy dentures. Economy dentures are sometimes the most cost effective type of denture.

-Acrylic Resin. According to the National Institute of Health, acrylic resin, or plastic, has become the highest on-demand material for dentures. ...
-Porcelain. Porcelain is usually a favorite of people because of its strength and durability, but it does cost a bit more. ...
-Partial Metal Dentures.

Dentures require a framework to support them, which is usually called a full or partial plate. This plate can be made from rigid acrylic resin or a type of flexible (nylon) polymer, as explained by the International Journal of Scientific Study. Or it can be moulded from chrome cobalt metal.

Daily Cleaning
Before cleaning, be sure to fill the sink with water or lay a soft towel down. ...
Rinse denture/partial under warm water after each meal to remove loose food debris. ...
They should be brushed daily with a soft tooth brush or soft denture brush.
They can be brushed with warm water, soap or denture paste.

Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. ... A precision partial denture is removable and has internal attachments rather than clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns. This is a more natural-looking appliance

Dentures need to be kept moist when not being worn so they do not dry out or lose their shape. When not worn, dentures should be placed in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in water. However, if the denture has metal attachments, the attachments could tarnish if placed in a soaking solution.