Are Dentures Right For You?

By Brent C. White, Jr., DDS

Thunderbird Dental Office

. https://www.thunderbirddentaloffice.com/

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Are Dentures Right For You?

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and the tissues connected to those teeth. It is made of acrylic plastic and sometimes porcelain and metal materials. A denture closely resembles natural gum tissue and teeth.
Complete dentures replace all of the teeth, while partial dentures fill in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevent other teeth from shifting position. Complete dentures are “immediate” or “conventional.” An immediate denture is a complete denture or partial denture that is inserted on the same day, immediately following the removal of the natural teeth. The immediate denture acts as a Band-Aid to protect the tissues and reduce bleeding after tooth extraction. Twelve weeks later a soft temporary liner is placed into the denture to further aid in proper healing and a better fit. Depending on how many teeth were extracted, determines if the dentures should be permanently relined in six months or a year.
Who Needs A Denture?
A partial denture is for people who still have some of their natural teeth. Dentures are not just for elderly patients. Patients of any age may lose some or all of their teeth and may require a denture of some sort. Because teeth are a permanent part of the body, tooth loss can have an emotional impact on some people. It is important to talk to your dentist about any fears, anxiety, or other emotions you are feeling about tooth loss.
What Happens When
You Get A Denture?
A dentist can make a full conventional denture when all teeth have been lost or all extraction sites have healed. At the ThunderBird our denture process requires two visits. Visit one, dental impressions are taken; jaw positioning is established along with all of the customization of your dentures. Visit two, the dentures are inserted and adjusted as needed.
New denture wearers need time to get accustomed to their new “teeth,” because even the best-fitting dentures will feel awkward at first. While most patients can begin to speak normally within a few hours, many patients report discomfort with eating for several days to a few weeks. To get accustomed to chewing with a new denture, start with soft, easy-to-chew foods. In addition, denture wearers often notice a slight change in facial appearance, increased salivary flow or minor irritation or discomfort.