dentures

Dentures

What are dentures?

A denture is a removable prosthesis used to replace missing teeth. Commonly referred to as ‘false teeth’, a denture is usually made of acrylic or a combination of acrylic and metal. A partial denture is fitted to replace some missing teeth whilst a complete denture is indicated when all natural teeth are missing. A good set of dentures helps you to eat, speak, function, and often improves a person’s appearance.

Useful suggestions to help you to adapt to the new dentures:

Eating – Eating will take a little practice. Start with soft foods and foods cut into small pieces will help. Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth at the same time to prevent dentures from tipping. Once you become accustomed to chewing, include other foods until you return to your normal diet.

Increased salivary flow – You may experience an increase in salivary flow when the dentures are first inserted. This is a natural response of the salivary glands that will return to normal after a few weeks. You can improve the situation by swallowing more often.

Speech – New dentures may alter your speech initially. Pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating troublesome words will speed up the adaptation process. This problem rarely persists beyond two weeks.

Sore spots – Minor irritation caused by surface irregularities or pressure spots on the denture-bearing areas are quite common. Your dentist will relieve the discomfort by adjusting the denture surface. Stop wearing the denture if the irritation is very painful. Consult your dentist immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

There is no set time for how long it takes to make dentures, as it depends on the complexity of each case and whether you will need complete or partial dentures. The process consists of making dental impressions and sending them to a lab for your dentures to be precisely made to fit snugly on top of your gums. Once your denture has been completed, you will have an appointment with your dentist, where your dentures will be fitted. Your dentist will do a check-over of them to ensure that they are comfortable for you and they are not painful at all. After you are both happy with the fit, the process will be finished; it may take some time to get used to them. Your bite may have to adjust, and they might feel abnormal for the first few weeks, but once this feeling has gone away, you will feel completely confident in your new smile.

Dentures can last between 5-8 years, but that all depends on how well you care for your dentures. If they are not cared for properly, they could start to become brittle and damaged; as you age, your face structure changes and your dentures may need to be adjusted so they fit perfectly around your gums.

Your dentures may not be made up of natural teeth, but you still want to keep them bacteria-free, unstained, and looking their best. Similarly to natural teeth, dentures need to be cleaned daily to prevent the build-up of dental plaque, the possible development of permanent stains and to remove any food residue.

You should remove your dentures every night and brush them thoroughly, removing any residue from food and denture adhesive. Your gums should be cleaned from any adhesive that is left; a clean washcloth can be used to wipe away the adhesive. Finally, your dentures should be left soaking in denture solution or water overnight and rinsed before being placed back into your mouth.

Patient Testimonials

See what our patients say about their experience here with us at East End Lodge.

Jane – Dentures Patient

“My first impressions were they were very friendly and they put me at ease because I was terrified with the dentist.

Treatment I’ve had here has been root canal treatment, I’ve had crowns put in, I’ve got gold teeth and I’ve now got dentures.

Before I had the treatment, I didn’t really want to smile too much because they were not very nice, dismal really, I’m a lot better now with my teeth.

After I’ve had the treatment I feel very confident in smiling knowing that my teeth are looking good.

When I first saw the results, I was very happy, very smiley, and I couldn’t thank them enough.

Yes, I would recommend because they are there whenever you need them. If you have a problem, you just ring up and they will fit you in as soon as they can.”

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