What is a denture?
A denture is a removable substitute for missing or lost teeth and is made from acrylic plastic or metal. The denture can replace any number of teeth, from individual teeth to the full set, in either one or both jaws.
A denture replacing all the teeth in either the upper or lower jaw is called a complete or full denture, and is usually made from acrylic. A denture that replaces some of the teeth in a jaw is called a partial denture and uses metal clasps or clips to limit the movement of the denture during eating.
Why do people wear dentures?
Complete or full dentures replace all the teeth in either one or both jaws. With somebody has no teeth in one or both jaws, they find eating and speaking clearly more difficult. A complete denture gives both lip and cheek support. Without this, a person may look older and have lower confidence and self-esteem.
Partial dentures are often worn for the same reasons as complete dentures but are advantagous in other ways. When people lose teeth, the teeth next to the now vacant space may move, as can the teeth in the opposing jaw that are over the gap. A partial denture can prevent this unwanted tooth movement.
How many appointments will it take to make a denture?
The completion of a denture will often happen between 5 and 7 appointments. Each appointment would be around 30 minutes long and be approximately 1 week apart.
When do I take the denture out?
Your dentist will advise you to remove your denture at night before going to bed to allow your gums to rest and to keep your mouth healthy.
How often should I get a new denture?
The gums and bone after tooth removal shrink. This happens at a fast rate initially and while this does slow down, the process is continuous. If the dentures become loose, the denture will need to be relined (a new fitting surface added to the denture) or remade. A denture can last 7-10 years without the need for relining or replacement.
What is an immediate denture?
An immediate denture is a denture that is fitted straight after the tooth/teeth are removed, meaning you don’t have to go without teeth. These are often needed when all the teeth in a jaw are being removed, or when a tooth or multiple teeth are being removed from the front of your mouth where missing teeth would be noticeable.
The dentist takes moulds of your mouth 1-2 weeks before the teeth are removed. A dental technician then makes the denture, and then as soon as the teeth are removed the denture is fitted.
Your dentist will often ask you to keep the immediate denture in place for the first 24 hours after which the denture is taken out at night-times. As the normal healing process after tooth removal causes a shrinkage in the bone and gums, the immediate denture will usually require remaking 6-9 months after the tooth removal.
Dental implants and dentures
Moving dentures can cause pain to gums, limit food selection and reduce people’s self-confidence. Dental Implants can be used with partial and complete dentures. These implants have attachments fitted to them that the denture clips on to, reducing movement drastically and improving the wearer’s quality of life.