Dentures
Dentures at Springs Dental Studio
What are dentures?
Dentures replace lost or missing teeth so that people can eat properly to enjoy a healthy diet, and to support the lips and soft tissues around the mouth giving a natural smile
A complete denture replaces all the natural teeth in a jaw.
A partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth and can be fastened to the natural teeth with clasps or precision attachments.
Dentures may be made of acrylic (plastic) or metal -normally chrome cobalt
Full Upper Denture
Partial Lower Denture
Why should I wear dentures?
Apart from restoring your smile and supporting the soft tissues of your face dentures may replace back teeth to support the front teeth in chewing and also to prevent teeth moving or tilting which could create problems with your bite
How are they made?
The dentures are normally constructed in 4 stages:-
- Our Dentists will take impressions at the first visit and these will be sent to the laboratory technician where casts of the teeth will be made
- Then we will check how your teeth bite together and may also take further impressions with specially constructed trays that fit to your teeth to get a more detailed copy of your mouth. A shade of your teeth will be taken either at this visit or the first visit
- At the Try-in stage we will check how the “waxed up” version of your teeth fit and bite together. We will also check if the shade and shape of the teeth look natural and if you are happy with them. If things are not how we or you wish them to be we will adjust them or send them back to the lab to be altered until we are happy with them.
- The final fit will be to check that the dentures are fitting comfortably and that the bite is good. You will be given instructions on how to care for your dentures and how to proceed in the following days while you get used to your new denture.
What should I do when I first get a new denture?
Even when you have worn dentures previously it can feel strange when new dentures are fitted
- Cut your food up into small pieces and chew slowly as you get used to the balance of your denture
- Although your denture may have felt good at the fitting it will “bed” in and may become too tight and uncomfortable
- If you feel the denture rubbing or catching the tissues, call the reception team to make an appointment with Peter or Lucy to have it adjusted. If you think you may develop an ulcer, remove the denture but wear it for 1 hour before your appointment so we can see easily where it is catching.
- Your speech may feel a little altered at first but you will soon adapt and within a few hours should be talking normally
How do I care for my denture?
- Always clean your denture over a bowl of water or soft towel so that if you drop them they won’t break ( a common cause of fractured dentures)
- With acrylic dentures we recommend brushing with a toothbrush in warm soapy water and soaking in Miltons solution for 15 minutes. If it is a metal denture don’t use Miltons but Corsodyl once a week. Do not use hot water as this will damage the denture and make them more brittle and liable to break.
- Leave your denture out at night to give your mouth and remaining tissues or teeth a rest
- keep your dentures damp or in water if left out to prevent drying out,warping, or cracking
- If you develop an ulcer anywhere in your mouth that last longer than two weeks always get it checked by our Dentists.