Dentures that won’t break the bank
The teeth are an important part of our anatomy. They influence our look, the way we speak and eat, and when they are missing that can affects our image and body functionality. One alternative solution to replace these missing teeth is to have dentures.
They are generally made from acrylic and customised to match in colour and size the natural teeth. These artificial teeth can be either full or partial dentures, depending on how many teeth need to be restored.
The full dentures are replacing all your natural teeth. They are positioned on the upper or lower jaws or both, providing support to your face and providing a natural look.
A partial denture is replacing one or more missing teeth. The denture is held in place by clasps around the remaining teeth. An implant retained denture is an alternative to the standard dentures, replacing one or more teeth. This kind of denture is kept in place by implants fixed into the jaw.
In general, the dentures are customised by the dentist or a specialist prosthetist in order to fit perfectly on your mouth and to prevent them to cause any bleeding gums, swelling and ulcers.
After a tooth or more have been removed, normally you should wait for a couple of months, allowing time for the bone and gums to heal. In this way, the denture is a better fit from the beginning. But, if you need immediately a denture, right after a tooth is removed, you could have an ‘immediate’ denture, at the same appointment if necessary. Be aware though that the immediate denture may frequently require some adjustments.
Complications of dentures may occur and you may experience some issues. If you have any of the following, check with your dentist as soon as possible: pain on the gums or bones, dentures are uncomfortable or not properly fitting, loose teeth, bleeding gums, swelling, persisting ulcers or sores, a gum abscess, bad breath.
The dentist will advise you how to take care of your denture, how often you should have them checked by the dentist and other instructions regarding your overall oral health. Normally, a yearly check-up, examining the cheek, tongue, gums and palate, and screening for oral cancer, is the common practice.
It is important to look after your dentures and to keep your mouth healthy. Clean your dentures in the morning and before bed. It is very good idea to rinse them in cold water after meals. You should always brush your dentures, using a denture brush or a regular toothbrush to remove food from between the teeth. Otherwise, the food that is stuck on the dentures will sit between the dentures and the gums will be damaged. Also, will cause the dentures to start to develop an unpleasant smell and even start creating sores on the gums. Use a mild soap and water or denture paste. Clean the dentures over a basin half-filled with water or covered with a towel, so in case that you drop them they will not break. Every night, take your dentures out of your mouth before you go to bed. Leaving your dentures out overnight gives your mouth a chance to rest and recover. It also helps to prevent fungal infections. Clean the dentures and keep them in cold water overnight.
Gently brush any part of your mouth that is covered by the dentures with a soft toothbrush. This includes your gums and the roof of your mouth.
Other things you should consider to do for a healthy mouth are: eat a wide variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups every day; drink plenty of water; avoid sugary foods and drinks, especially between meals; a regular dental check-up. If you take medication, ask your doctor, pharmacist or oral health professional if this affects your mouth.
If you need emergency denture repair please feel free to contact us on 02 8021 5285.
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