Dentures

Saving even a few natural teeth is often better than losing them all. Natural teeth or even parts of natural teeth can help you retain bone in your jaw. They also can act as stable supports for bridges, overdentures or removable partial dentures.

Dentures can be either complete or partial. Complete dentures are made for people who have lost all of their teeth. They can be given more support by placement of implants in the bone under the denture. Partial dentures are used to replace only a few teeth. They attach to nearby teeth.

The good news is that dentures aren’t what they used to be. Newer materials and technology have allowed great improvements. Dentures are now made to fit comfortably and look natural.

Denture problems still can occur, of course. But problems such as clicking, slipping, frequent gum irritation and odor may be signs that your dentures don’t fit well. They may need to be adjusted, relined or remade.

Although dentures may look like your natural teeth, they cannot work like them. They take time to get used to. This may take months, but soon enough, you will be talking and eating like you always have!

Just like real teeth, plaque can build up on dentures. Therefore, your denture should be removed at night and placed in a denture cleaning liquid. This liquid loosens the plaque so the denture should be brushed before being reinserted in the mouth the next day.

Here at Scarboro Smiles, we provide our patients with a complementary Ultrasonic Denture Cleaner. This cleaner vibrates as it cleans, working even harder to rid your denture of plaque. This will leave your dentures looking clean and new.

Full Dentures vs Partial Dentures

Full Dentures cover your entire jaw, either upper or lower. Some people call them “plates.” Full dentures rest directly on the gum that covers the bone. Full dentures are custom made for you. The size, shape and color of the artificial teeth are made to look and feel as natural as possible. On occasion, one or more natural teeth are kept when a denture is made. These teeth usually have root canal treatment and are shortened to fit under the denture. This type of denture is known as an overdenture. Dentists like to maintain a few natural teeth and replace the missing teeth with an overdenture if possible. This has several advantages:

• Your natural teeth help preserve bone.
• Your natural teeth bear some of the chewing pressure. This reduces pressure
on other areas of the jaw.
• Your remaining teeth make the denture more stable and less likely to shift
in your mouth.
• You feel a better sense of where your jaw is in space and the pressure you
are placing on the denture if you have not lost all of your teeth.
• You may find it easier to accept wearing dentures if you have kept some teeth.

Lower dentures tend to be more difficult to keep in your mouth than upper dentures. Therefore, an overdenture can be particularly helpful for the lower jaw. However, it is an option for almost anyone who has a few healthy teeth remaining.

The teeth will have to be shaped to fit the denture. Shaping may expose the tooth’s living pulp. For this reason, the teeth usually need root canal treatment. This removes the pulp (the nerve of the tooth) and replaces it with filling material. The teeth that will remain fit into openings in the denture.

Overdentures also can fit over implants instead of natural teeth. In fact, implants originally were developed to give people “artificial roots” for bridges or dentures in the lower jaw. The denture can fit onto the implants directly, or onto a metal bar between implants.

Partial Dentures consist of a metal framework with prosthetic teeth and gum areas. The framework includes metal clasps or other attachments to hold the denture in place by attaching to other teeth. However, partial dentures are removed easily for cleaning.

Fixed partial dentures, which most people call bridges, are cemented in place. They look more like natural teeth. Bridges are more expensive than removable partial dentures, however. They also have to be supported by nearby healthy teeth.

Metal clasps are C-shaped, I-shaped and Y-shaped parts of the denture framework. They fit around neighboring natural teeth. These teeth may require shaping to help hold the clasps and keep the denture securely in place.

A precision attachment is like a key fitting into a keyhole. A crown that is placed over your tooth contains the “keyhole.” The denture contains the “key.” When you put in your denture, the “key” fits into the “keyhole” in the crown. This type of denture looks better because no clasps are visible. It also fits tighter. However, it does take more skill to place in the mouth because the “key” must fit exactly into the “keyhole.”

So, complete and partial dentures are used in different cases, come into our office and see which procedure you are eligible for and let us make your denture experience as easy as possible!

The natural aging process and tooth wear can result in a shorter looking face, wrinkles and thin, compressed lips that can make you look older than you actually are. Dr. Cumandra’s surgery-free facelift can help you reverse these effects by lengthening your face to restore your youthful appearance for the long term.

If you have dentures and never want to worry about them wiggling or falling out, mini implants are an excellent solution. Mini implants, as the name suggests, are just thinner and less invasive versions of traditional implants. Also, they can be finished in one appointment and require much less healing time than normal implants because with mini implants, there is no need to make an incision in the gums. This means that the amount of trauma to your mouth is minimal.

The mini implant works as a solid post that keeps your dentures firm and in place because implants mimic the function of natural teeth (the way they grow deep into the bone for support). The dentures attach to these posts and then remain firm and in place in your mouth.

Scarborough Smiles offers nickel-free dentures made from an alloy safe for individuals allergic to nickel. In addition, this alloy is also more accurate and requires less extension than plastic-based dentures, allowing for a more comfortable and precise fit!