Whats a denture?
A denture is a removable dental appliance and a replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and can greatly enhance your smile. Complete dentures are used when all of the teeth are missing.
A complete denture can be either “conventional” or “immediate.” The conventional denture is made for a patient that either currently has a denture that needs to be replaced or has recently gotten the remaining teeth extracted (at least 4-6 weeks). The Immediate denture is made for a patient that currently has teeth that need to be extracted and is placed after the teeth are removed, thus preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. Once the tissues shrink and heal, adjustments will have to be made.
Indications for dentures:
– Loss of all teeth in an arch.
– Enhancing smile and facial tissues.
– Improving chewing, speech, and digestion.
What does getting dentures involve?
First Appointment:
– Preliminary impressions are made of the upper and lower jaws
– From these impressions I will make a customized impression tray to fit your jaw.
Second Appointment:
– Adapt and mold the customized impression tray to your mouth
– Take a highly accurate final impression using the customized impression tray
– Decide on a tooth shade and shape
– From this accurate impression I will make a denture base which we will use at the next appointment
Third Appointment:
– Measure and record the relationship of your upper and lower jaws to each other and to your face.
– Determine how much lip and cheek support you need for proper esthetics and phonetics
– Try in the 6 anterior teeth in the upper and lower jaws, working together to determine how you want them to look
– After this appointment I will arrange the remaining teeth.
Fourth Appointment (optional):
– Try in the full arrangement of teeth and make any necessary adjustments
– After this appointment I will then send the arranged teeth to the lab to be processed
Fifth Appointment:
– Deliver the final denture to you.
– Make adjustments to avoid any excessive rubbing on your gums of soft tissue
– Make adjustments on the bite so that is even and comfortable on both sides
Sixth Appointment:
– I would like to see you 24 hours later to examine for sore spots and make adjustments
Seventh Appointment:
– 1-2 weeks later
– Adjustments
You will be given care instructions for your new dentures. Proper cleaning of your new dental appliance, good oral hygiene, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new dentures.