Dentures: Everything You Need to Know
While we can customize dentures to fit a patient’s teeth perfectly at JD Ross D.D.S. Inc, there are still a few key factors that patients need to understand before getting dentures. Fortunately, advancements in dental technology allow for this process to be easier than ever before.
Why Dentures are Needed
If a patient loses a tooth due to an accident, decay, infection, or age, it is important to replace it right away. The best way to do so is with dental implants since an implant can replace the root system and tooth. However, if the patient does not want a surgical procedure, dentures are an excellent solution. Dentures are dependable and highly functional. Keep in mind that early replacement is key because it can minimize the amount of resorption that occurs and helps the overall appearance remain intact.
Difference between Dentures and Partial Dentures
A full or complete set of dentures is the best choice when the patient has lost all of his or her teeth or all the teeth on the upper or lower palate. Partial dentures are necessary when the patient has only lost a few teeth, but still, has remaining ones the denture can secure to. Full or complete dentures secure in place by surrounding the gums. By matching a patient’s exact measurements, the dentures will remain securely in place.
Partial dentures, on the other hand, are secured to the other teeth using wires or clasps. In both cases, the fit will be precise, so the denture will not move when eating or speaking. Some people find that their complete dentures need additional security and elect to use a denture adhesive to assist with this. We can discuss all these options when the patient visits our dental office.
Temporary Dentures
Many of our patients will wear dentures and partial dentures on a temporary basis while undergoing cosmetic procedures to permanently replace missing teeth. For example, if a patient decides to get dental implants, the total treatment time can be several months. To preserve the appearance of the smile during this process, a temporary denture will be available.
Other patients wear dentures while trying to decide which treatment route they want to take. Doing so gives patients the flexibility to make decisions without feeling like they have to rush into something. The one thing to keep in mind is that the longer patients go without replacing the lost tooth or teeth, the more the body will experience resorption. Even if the patient only replaces the lost teeth with a temporary set of dentures, it will help.
Once your jawbone stabilizes, JD Ross D.D.S. Inc can fit the patient with a permanent set of dentures that will fit well and continue to do so. In other cases, we can provide patients with a dental bridge or dental implants as a permanent replacement solution.
What to Expect When Getting Dentures
There are different types of dentures, two of which are removable dentures and implant dentures. Removable dentures are a more traditional option that requires the patient to remove them at night when they sleep. Implant dentures are not removable since we attach them directly to the jaw. We will not recommend implant dentures unless the patient is healthy and if the patient does not have any teeth left to use.
In order to determine the best type of dentures for the patient, we will conduct a thorough examination of the patient’s teeth and current level of oral health. From there, we will continue through other steps in the process for a patient who is interested in getting dentures. Below is a list of the steps in the process.
A dental exam
The first step is for our team to examine the patient’s teeth and determine the state of the patient’s oral health. During this examination, the dentist will search for any signs of infection, tooth decay, previous dental work that can hinder the denture process and search for any other teeth that may need removal prior to placing the dentures.
Making the dentures
After the consultation, the dentist will take a mold of the teeth and measurements to ensure that the dentures fit the remaining teeth exactly. We will then send these results to a dental lab that will build the dentures to the specifications.
Fitting the dentures
Once we complete the dentures, we will bring the patient in for a fitting to ensure the dentures fit without issue. We will make sure that the individual can use the dentures without pain or issue. If necessary, we will make adjustments to the dentures during this appointment.
Adapting to dentures
While there will not be any pain, it may take some time to adapt to wearing the dentures. It may take some time to adapt to eating and speaking with the dentures, but the patient will eventually have the same function and control as with regular teeth.
Other factors to consider
The dentures that one gets from our office will be a custom fit to the individual’s mouth, but may take some time before the individual has complete mastery of the dentures. Dentures also require proper oral hygiene to last as long as possible. However, proper care will not involve typical brushing with toothpaste.
The proper care of dentures will require using a specific type of brush and a liquid solution that does not harm the material of the dentures. The patient will also need to soak the removable dentures in the solution at least every night when the patient sleeps. Since there are different types of dentures, we will go over the most effective care methods for the type of dentures the patient has. We will also recommend the best type of solution for cleaning the dentures and where to get it.
Just because the patient does not have any teeth does not mean the gums cannot get infected. Thus, a patient without teeth needs to brush his or her gums at least twice a day. Using water to rinse the dentures after removing them from the mouth, patients then need to gently brush the gums with toothpaste.
Regular brushing and keeping the dentures clean will help ensure that the patient does not have an infection growing in the mouth. It is important for the patient to also brush the tongue and along the roof of the mouth. While this may take some time for a patient to adjust to, proper oral hygiene is crucial for keeping dentures in the best condition possible.
With proper oral hygiene, patients also need to be careful to avoid dropping the dentures on the counter or ground in the bathroom. While dentures are sturdy, they are not unbreakable. If the patient needs repairs on dentures of any kind, it is crucial to call us and seek assistance. Attempting to repair the dentures without professional expertise can result in catastrophic results.
Solutions for Common Denture Problems
Dentures can replace missing teeth and give a patient a fully-functional smile with a natural appearance. We can measure the patient’s mouth and develop dentures for the patient’s teeth, but we cannot be at the patient’s home 24/7. There may be times in which the patient damages the dentures and needs to seek treatment at our office.
While damage or natural wear and tear to dentures is inevitable, we can help patients prevent possible damage and other issues by going over the best methods for effective denture use prior to receiving dentures. Here are a few problems that patients with dentures struggle with and the solution to each.
Problem: Dentures can make it difficult when eating or speaking
Solution: Patience, practice and proper care
People who acquire new dentures will find that speaking and eating are more difficult than they realize. We recommend that patients take it slow and practice pronouncing any words that are difficult to say quickly. It may take some time and practice but the patient will eventually speak without difficulty.
When it comes to eating with dentures, the patient needs to start by eating softer foods for the first few days after getting the dentures. If the patient experiences any pain when eating certain foods, it is best to avoid said foods and eat something softer for the time being. Patients can also chew with both sides of the mouth to prevent the dentures from moving forward uncomfortably.
Problem: Unsure of the best way to keep dentures clean
Solution: Use a specific denture-cleaning solution
Proper denture care is crucial for the lifespan of dentures. If a patient uses regular toothpaste on the dentures, then the toothpaste will begin to erode the material on the dentures and the dentures will break. The best form of care is to remove the dentures and run water through them to clean out any bits of food.
After, the patient can use a specific brush for cleaning the dentures and soak the dentures overnight. We can go over the proper cleaning regimen during the fitting appointment. It is important that the dentures do not dry out overnight.
Problem: Dentures become loose over time
Solution: Seek professional adjustment at our office
Over time, dentures will begin to loosen due to the gums and bones changing. Since there are no longer teeth within the jawbone to stimulate the jaw and the body that teeth are still there, the body will go through a process known as resorption. This process leeches calcium from the jaw bone to other areas of the body in need. Fortunately, we can adjust modify or replace denture as necessary with regular appointments.
When the dentures feel loose, it will not always be a noticeable amount. In some cases, it will begin as a slight shift that the patient may not even notice. However, even if the dentures are only slightly loose, it is crucial to seek repairs from our office.
Problem: Irritation in the gums or mouth
Solution: Proper care and professional treatment
If the dentures do not fit properly, they can cause irritation on the gums or within the mouth. In cases where the dentures begin to loosen after several months of use, there is a higher chance that the gums will begin to hurt. If the patient continues to feel pain or irritation, then give us a call and schedule an appointment.
The best solution is prevention, if at all possible. By taking the proper precautionary steps, patients can prolong the life of their dentures. When the gums continue to experience irritation, we recommend scheduling an appointment for us to examine the mouth and see what is wrong.
Problem: What to do when traveling with dentures
Solution: Bring the proper cleaning supplies
While one will not need a traveling case for taking the dentures on a flight or car ride, it is crucial to have the proper cleaning tools for the trip. Traveling with dentures can be easy if one brings the proper cleaning fluid and container/glass to soak the denture in overnight.
Similar to bringing a toothbrush, patients need to bring whatever solution or brush they use to clean their dentures with them. Even though one is on vacation, keeping dentures in the best shape possible is important for one’s overall health.
Adhesives for Dentures
While today’s dentures are far better fitting, thus more comfortable than those made even a generation ago, many people use dental adhesive even if they have a well fitting denture. The reason for this is because many people often feel more secure with the added stability, and biting capability that an adhesive gives. However, an adhesive should never be used to fix an ill-fitting denture. Instead, visit our dental office in Ventura so that we can make the necessary adjustments. Adhesives are generally safe to use, so long as people follow a few basic common sense rules.
For example, always use the least possible amount of adhesive. People need to apply less than what they think they will need and spread it in a thin layer on a scrupulously clean denture. If, after some time, one begins to feel that a little more adhesive is necessary, then patients can always reapply more. If, after putting dentures in the mouth, the adhesive oozes out of the side, then the patient has probably put too much on the teeth incorrectly. In the case of an upper set, apply a thin strip of adhesive down the center and along each ridge. A lower set only requires a thin strip of adhesive in the very center of the ridged area.
The dental adhesive is also available in powder form, which has some distinct advantages over the paste. One advantage is that the powder is easier to clean off. If an individual decides to use powder, then he or she needs to sprinkle a light, but uniform, layer over the underside of the denture. Shake off any excess, and then press the denture into place.
In rare cases, people are allergic to one or more ingredients in the adhesive demonstrated by itchiness or hives. In this case, the individual needs to remove the denture immediately, thoroughly cleaning the dentures and mouth. One must not attempt to use the adhesive again, but see a dentist for advice and help.
When removing your dentures fixed with adhesive, it may help to first swish a few mouthfuls of warm water around your mouth which will help loosen the adhesive. Remove the dentures by gently wiggling them back and forth while simultaneously pulling them towards the front of your mouth. You can rub a washcloth over your gums to remove any remaining traces of adhesive, and then soak your dentures in effervescent denture tablets that are designed to clean them. For more tips on how to care for your dentures, give our office a call at 805-642-1555.