DENTURES
DENTURES
A denture or plate replaces lost or missing teeth with artificial teeth. Dentures are usually made of an acrylic or metal substructure (cobalt-chrome) while teeth are made from acrylic.
If you need a denture, we will carefully evaluate your requirements, tailor-making it for you. You’ll get to decide what materials your denture is made from and what design would suit you best.
HOW TO LIVE WELL WITH NEW DENTURES:
Comfort: Give yourself time to get used to a new denture, even if you have worn one before.
Eating: Avoid eating sticky, sharp, or hard foods. Learn to balance food in your mouth because your denture may tip up or place excessive force on areas of your gums, causing pain. If you have not worn a denture before, your gums may feel sore as they adjust to their new roles in eating. Cut food into small pieces and try to chew on both sides of the mouth equally. Start out with soft food and add other foods as you adjust.
Speech: Your tongue and cheek muscles will need time to get used to holding your denture in place as you speak. Try practicing in front of a mirror. Initially you may produce lots of saliva, but this will subside as your mouth adjusts to the denture. If your dentures click when you talk, try talking more slowly at first.
Soreness: If soreness occurs, make an appointment as soon as you can. Remove your denture if you experience excessive pain, but replace it twelve hours before your dental appointment or we won’t be able to adjust your denture accordingly.
DENTURE CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE:
Cleaning: You must clean your denture and gums just as you would your teeth. Use a soft toothbrush or cloth to clean your dentures after each meal. Don't use abrasives, strong chemicals, or hot water.
Breakage: Dentures are easy to break if dropped. That’s why you should be careful when handling them. Stand over a folded towel or basin of water when removing your denture, and don’t glue broken pieces back together as this can damage the denture and make it impossible to repair.
Rest: We will advise you on what is best for your individual circumstances but it’s often best to leave your dentures out at night to allow your gums to rest. However, we will probably advise you to leave a new denture in constantly until you get used to it. When not in use, place your denture in water so it doesn’t dry out: dry dentures may warp.
Denture adhesive: A denture adhesive can provide additional retention for well-fitting dentures. A poorly fitting denture will cause problems so see the dentist if your denture doesn't fit well.
Denture replacement: The shape of your mouth changes naturally over time. Bone and gum can shrink or recede, and your jaws may begin to align differently. But loose dentures can contribute to health problems and a new denture can improve your facial features.
Dental appointments: Regular check-ups are still important with dentures and are even more important if you have a partial denture.
