What are dentures?
Dentures are artificial teeth and gums made by your dentist to fit your mouth and are used to replace natural teeth that have been lost or removed. Dentures can be either full or partial dentures. Whichever type of dentures you need, they will be customized to fit your mouth, and they can replace all of the teeth on the upper or lower gum line, as well as a few missing teeth, and visually match your existing teeth.
How are dentures made?
The development process for dentures at takes several weeks and requires several appointments. Once your dentist or prosthodontist (a dentist who specializes in restoring and replacing teeth) determines which type of appliance is best for you, the general steps are as follows:
- Take a series of impressions of your jaws and measure the relationship between your jaws and the amount of space between them.
- A mock-up, wax model, and/or plastic model is made based on the exact shape and position of the dentures to be made. You will “try on” this model several times and evaluate the color, shape, and fit of the denture prior to final casting.
- Casting final dentures
- Adjustments will be made if necessary
Full Dentures
Complete dentures can be either “traditional” or “immediate“. Conventional dentures are made after the gum tissue begins to heal after a tooth is extracted and can be placed in the mouth approximately 8 to 12 weeks after the tooth is extracted.
Unlike traditional dentures, immediate dentures are pre-fabricated and can be placed after extractions. Therefore, the wearer does not have to lose teeth during the healing period. However, the bone and gums can shrink over time, especially during the healing period after tooth extraction. Therefore, one of the disadvantages of immediate dentures compared to traditional dentures is that they require more adjustments during the healing process in order to fit correctly, and can often only be considered a temporary solution until traditional dentures can be fabricated.
Partial Dentures
A removable partial denture or bridge usually consists of replacement teeth secured to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, sometimes the plastic base is attached by a metal framework that holds the denture in the mouth. A partial denture is used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. A fixed bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the gap and securing the denture to the teeth. The “bridge” is then fixed in place. A partial denture not only fills the gap caused by missing teeth, but also prevents other teeth from moving out of position. A precision partial denture is removable and has internal attachments rather than retaining rings that are fixed to adjacent crowns. This is a much more natural looking appliance.
Why do I need dentures?
Dentures not only improve your smile when you are missing multiple teeth, but they also keep your oral structure healthy by supporting the structures around your cheeks and lips. Dentures also help you chew your food, ensuring that your diet stays the same and you get the proper nutrition. Finally, dentures are a viable solution for replacing teeth that are causing severe pain and oral health problems, such as root rot or severely damaged teeth. Getting dentures means that troublesome teeth are removed and replaced with strong, aesthetically pleasing alternatives.
Are dentures worn 24 hours a day?
Your dentist or prosthodontist will tell you how long your dentures will be worn and when to remove them. For the first few days after receiving your dentures, you may be asked to wear them all the time, including while sleeping. While this may be temporarily uncomfortable, it is the fastest way to identify areas on your dentures that may need to be adjusted. Once the adjustment is complete, you should remove your dentures before going to bed. This allows the gum tissue to rest and permits your tongue and saliva to stimulate and clean properly. In the morning, you can place the dentures back in your mouth.
How to Clean Dentures
Regardless of the type of dentures you have, you will need to clean them every day, just as you would your normal teeth. Even though dentures are made of artificial teeth, bacteria, plaque, and tartar can still build up on them, potentially damaging existing teeth and gums.
To clean your dentures, remove them from your mouth and rinse them with water to remove any food particles that may be stuck between your teeth, along the gum line or underneath the structure. Then brush your dentures with a denture brush or a very soft toothbrush using a mild soap or denture cleaner. Do not use any other cleaners, regular toothpaste or electric toothbrushes as these are too rough and can damage and wear down the denture material. After cleaning, be sure to rinse them well.
After removing your dentures, be sure to clean your gums and any natural teeth with a very soft and moist toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste (if necessary). If your toothbrush is too stiff, wrap your fingers in a moist, soft washcloth and gently rub the gums, making sure to cover all surfaces.
If you have more questions about dentures or have a need for customized dentures, feel free to schedule an appointment on Sunrisedental and our professionals are always available to answer your questions.