Dentures

Dentures are one of the most traditional methods when it comes to teeth replacement. There has often been a negative stigma surrounding dentures that they are uncomfortable and won’t fit into your lifestyle very well.

Luckily, modern dentistry has come on in leaps and bounds and this is now a thing of the past. It is important to understand that when you begin your journey in getting false teeth, that there is an expectation your new teeth may require adjustments after the initial fit. This is because our mouths are very adaptive and do undergo certain changes when we have missing teeth. All restorations and medical devices we use will be considered a foreign entity to our bodies and will require a certain embedding in period so we get used to wearing them. It is important that if your not quite happy with your new teeth, don’t suffer in silence, give our friendly team a call and we will be happy to have a look at your new teeth for you. You may just need a simple denture reline to get you back on track.

Why Would I Need Dentures?

The answer to this question is easy, you are not happy with your current situation of missing teeth. We take our teeth for granted and it’s only when we have lost them we notice the impact they can have on our lives. Without teeth it makes eating more difficult and can mean avoiding certain foods (which may be your favorite). Missing teeth can also have a negative impact on your speech.

One of the most common reasons why we see patients who would like to explore the options of dentures is because their self confidence has been knocked and they are afraid to smile.

Aesthetics do play an important role in our society and we can be our own worst critics when looking at ourselves in a mirror. Improving your confidence can have a positive outcome on all aspects of your live.

How Do I Get Dentures?

After we have discussed all of your options at the dental assessment, we will take primary impressions using a putty and tray system of your mouth. These impressions will be used to make a special tray, that will be then used at the next appointment to take the secondary impressions. The second appointment will give us a more accurate impression that gathers important information relating to retention and stability.

The dental labs will then be used to make a mock up version of your new dentures, which is known as the “try stage”. Just like the name suggests, this is for you to try your new teeth in – take them for a bit of a test drive, feeding back how they feel in your mouth.

Using the “try stage” information, the lab will be able to fabricate the final denture, with the agreed shade of teeth. It is expected with dentures there is a bit of an embedding in period, and a further adjustment on them may be required. All of our dentures are custom made for our patients, and they are designed to be comfortable and functional for your mouths. If you feel that your denture is not ticking all the right boxes, please do not hesitate to call us so we can do a simple adjustment to the denture.

Denture Relines

It’s not uncommon for dentures to eventually start to feel loose or not as comfortable as they once were. This is because our mouth continues to change over a period of time, and when your dentures are first made, it is a snapshot of your mouth during that period. When we have lost our natural teeth, we suffer from bone resorption. This is when the bone and gums deteriorate, causing them to change shape, which can lead to ill fitting dentures. How quickly this happens will vary from person to person and certain lifestyle choice can speed this on e.g. smoking etc.

Denture relines are a pretty straight forward process that can be done on some types of dentures (metal bases are more difficult to adjust). We effectively take the base of your denture and adjust it to fit your new measurements of your mouth, making it comfortable and functional again.

If you would like to find out what the most suitable tooth replacement option are for you, please do not hesitate to call us and book your dental assessment today.