DENTURES

Dentures are the most non-invasive and inexpensive option available for replacing missing teeth, and we make sure they fit perfectly so your smile is dazzling and comfortable. If you’re on a fixed budget or are not a candidate for a bridge or implants, a denture is an excellent choice.

It may take a few weeks for the muscles in your cheeks, lips, floor of your mouth and tongue to adjust to your dentures; and speaking or eating may feel different. But once you get accustomed to them, your new dentures should fit like a glove, leaving you to enjoy your new smile with ease.

Complete vs. Partial Dentures

Dentures can either replace an entire row of teeth in the mouth, or like a bridge, replace a segment of a row.

Complete dentures (or ‘false teeth’) are tooth replacement options for people without teeth or those people with teeth that are unable to be saved. We’d extract any remaining natural teeth, then create a complete denture to fit overtop of the gum line. The full denture stays in place in part due to physiologic factors like suction caused by saliva, and in part due to the wearer learning to use them and adjusting his or her resting jaw position to keep them from shifting. It takes awhile, but it eventually becomes second nature.

Partial dentures are a substitute for a bridge. They’re held in place by clasps that fit onto neighbouring natural teeth, as well as by other retentive features depending on how large the gap is.

Implant Retained/Implant Supported Dentures

Implants can be used to help provide more stability, support and retention for your partial or complete denture.
Talk to your dentist about what options are available.

Maintenance

Cleaning

  • Plaque and tartar can form on dentures just like they can form on regular teeth. Unlike regular teeth, however, dentures need to be removed to be cleaned.
  • Remove and run under water to rinse off loose food particles.
  • Wet a denture brush and apply special denture cleaner — regular toothpaste is too abrasive and could damage your dentures.
  • Gently brush all surfaces of the dentures, especially around the clasps of partials. Don’t push too hard around the wires; you don’t want to bend them out of shape.
  • Rinse your dentures well in clean water before placing them back in your mouth.

Handling

  • You’ve seen pictures of people putting dentures in cups of warm water next to their beds, and for good reason. It’s the right thing to do for your dentures (soak them to clean them) and for you (give your mouth and jaw a rest).
  • Never use hot water.
  • If you drop your dentures, they’ll probably break. Always put them on or take them off over a folded towel or place them in a container.
  • Cracked dentures can lead to many problems. If you find a crack, bring it in so we can check it for you.
  • The shape of your mouth changes every year. Make sure you have your dentures checked at least once a year so we can tweak their shape as needed — poorly fitted dentures can lead to many issues in your mouth.