We all hope our natural teeth will last a lifetime, but if you have lost your natural teeth from periodontal disease, tooth decay, or injury, either a complete denture or partial denture can replace your missing teeth - and your smile. Replacing your missing teeth will be a benefit not only for your appearance but also for your health, giving you the opportunity to eat better and smile.
Denture Types Defined:
Complete Dentures: Replace all missing teeth in a jaw and rest on the gum tissue. The denture is made of flesh-colored acrylic. The base of the upper denture covers the palate (the roof of the mouth) while that of the lower is shaped like a horseshoe to allow room for the tongue. A complete denture can be attached to several implants, which allows for a more secure fit. Having implants placed under a denture will reduce the shrinkage of bone and gum tissue in your jaw.
Conventional Partial Dentures: Replace some missing teeth and are held in place with clasps that wrap around adjacent teeth. Precision and semi-precision partial dentures (also called attachment partial dentures): Replace some missing teeth and are held in place with mechanical components called attachments.
Getting your Dentures: The Process
Five appointments are needed before dentures can be fabricated and the amount of time those appointments can take will vary depending upon a person’s overall oral health, the number and location of missing teeth, and the type of denture selected to replace those teeth. These appointments can include:
- Primary impressions: Used to fabricate custom impression trays for the final impression of upper and lower jaw.
- Final Impressions: Impression taken of the upper and lower jaw.
- Records: Bite registration to relate upper and lower jaws together. Select the correct size, shape, and color of the denture teeth.
- Try-In: Denture teeth will be set in wax, and tried in the mouth to allow the patient to see what the dentures will look and feel like before it is processed in acrylic.
- Seat: Denture will be seated in the mouth and adjusted for any sore spots.
- After the denture has been worn for a period of time, sore spots on the gum and tissue can occur, it is important to have these sore spots adjusted, immediately.
Individuals who require extractions or implant surgery will need to wait several weeks to months for the mouth to heal before the dentures can be placed. For some people, a temporary or “immediate” denture can be placed in the mouth on the same day extractions are performed, and worn until the permanent denture is fitted.
What to Expect: Getting Used to Your Dentures:
It takes some time to get used to the feeling of dentures in your mouth, after which you should be able to comfortably eat, speak, and smile. The following is normal when complete dentures are initially placed in the mouth:
- A feeling of fullness in the mouth, face, lips, and/or cheeks, which will subside quickly.
- Temporary minor changes in speech sounds, which will be more apparent to you than to others.
- Tip: Speaking slowly and enunciating precisely helps the tongue and facial muscles adapt more quickly.
- Changes in chewing patterns while getting used to the jaw movements required for chewing with dentures, which may take several weeks.
- Tip: Start with small pieces of soft food, gradually increasing the food’s firmness, and chew food on both sides of the mouth simultaneously with only your back teeth. A small amount of denture adhesive may help to stabilize your dentures.
Call (402) 486-4050, to schedule an appointment and let Baum Family Dentistry be your Denture Dentist in Lincoln, NE.
