If your dentures loosen over time, contact us right away. Ill-fitting dentures can trap bacteria and plaque, leading to oral health problems.
At your consultation, one of our dentists will assess your oral health by performing an oral exam and taking x-rays. These will help us determine if you’re a good candidate for dentures.
Digital or physical impressions will be taken of your mouth and sent to a dental lab which will use them to fabricate the custom-made dentures that fit the measurements of your mouth and mimic your natural bite. Until your official dentures are ready, you will be given a set of temporary dentures to help you eat and speak.
After a few weeks, we will have a mock-up of your dentures set in wax and you will be called for a trial fitting to test how they fit, feel, and look. Adjustments at this point are normal.
After we’ve made all of the necessary adjustments, which may take a few tries, we will have a final fitting for your dentures and if you’re satisfied, you will go home with these and you’ll be given aftercare instructions.
A partial denture replaces one or a few missing teeth in the mouth. These dentures are connected through a metal framework and the metal clasps wrap around the abutment teeth to hold them in place. Unlike a fixed bridge, a partial denture can replace teeth on both sides of the mouth. They have a maximum lifespan of 15 years.
We only recommend full dentures for patients who are already missing most of their teeth. This is because to replace an arch of teeth with a full denture, we need to extract your remaining teeth. Your gums need to fully heal for 8 to 12 weeks before placing your official dentures.
You will receive a set of temporary dentures in the meantime. Full dentures form a seal around the gums, which holds them in place. The lifespan of full dentures is 7 to 10 years.
Dentures should always be removed at night.
If you’re in good oral health, are suffering from extensive tooth loss, and are not a candidate for other tooth-replacement methods like implants, then dentures are a great option for you. Dentures are much more suitable for patients with diminished gum and bone tissue.
Unlike with implants, you don’t need a bone grafting procedure to be eligible. Dentures also cost less, are less invasive, and take less time.
The adjustment period for dentures is about 30 days long, so don’t worry if you’re struggling to speak clearly or eat a normal diet in the first month. You may salivate more than normal because your body detects a foreign object.
Try sucking on hard candy to encourage more frequent swallowing. You’ll also likely find it difficult to pronounce certain sounds and appear to sound louder than normal. You’ll get used to the volume of your voice, which is compounded by the change in how sound travels through your mouth.
You can adjust to speaking by reading out loud, practicing tongue twisters, and spending more time trying to pronounce “s” and “f” sounds. Sore and tender gums are not unusual during this period. Try taking anti-inflammatory pain medication and rinsing with a saltwater solution.
Dentures need to be stored in a denture solution at night to prevent them from drying out.
Office: (512) 444-1133
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 8am to 5pm
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