Dentures are removable teeth and supporting tissue replacements that is made from a combination of acrylic resin and metals. They are designed to replace lost teeth; dentures are typically worn by those who have lost most of their teeth due to age or disease. Encino Dentist employs the latest technology in creating advanced devices that mimic real teeth and are lightweight for people who are seeking specialty dentures.

Dentures and How They are Made

Specialty dentures are made from a combination of different materials. Most dentures consist of synthetic and metallic elements such as acrylic resin, aluminum, and even titanium. The process of making a denture can last about one month while the specialty dentist fits and adjusts them for the specific patient.

Impressions are made from your jaw and the inside of your mouth to mold the dentures. A set of dentures may also be issued for a temporary period to gauge the shape and fit of your mouth.

Categories of Dentures

Full Dentures

While there are dentures that replace all the teeth, partial dentures fill only the gaps left by missing teeth and prevent overcrowding and unnatural appearance of teeth. If there are remaining teeth in the mouth, the teeth can shift to fill in the empty gaps and can cause malformation, which partial dentures can fix.

When full dentures are prescribed, the patient has either lost all their teeth or have a few remaining. If there are a few remaining teeth, they will be extracted before the dentures are inserted to improve speech and bite. Partial dentures work best for patients with some natural teeth where the device fits into the gaps and helps facial muscle support. Types of full dentures include immediate, conventional, and implant supported dentures.

Immediate dentures are temporary since the healing process may adjust gum and muscles as time goes by. The natural shrinkage of gums will require the replacement of immediate dentures with a more permanent option. They are however advantageous due to the availability of teeth soon after the removal of natural ones.

After the healing of gums and the normalizing of the mouth after tooth extraction, conventional full dentures are fabricated to your new specifications. These are more intricate in construction and crafting to ensure a proper fit that shall last a long time. Complete, conventional or immediate dentures are different depending on how soon they will be inserted after the removal of the remaining teeth.

Those inserted immediately are known as immediate dentures after the last tooth has been removed. A preliminary patient's jaw model is made as a prototype from which the dentures are cast. There is no healing time needed with immediate dentures though the jaw may have detractions and shrinkage during the first half year after teeth are removed.

8 to 12 weeks after the removal of teeth, conventional dentures can be fitted. The immediate variety can are made before tooth removal and will be installed soon after.

Finally, implant-supported dentures increase the stability for the patient due to the fixed upper and lower parts of the dentures. Dental implants are used to anchor the dentures for greater functionality and comfort. Implants are inserted where the dentures will clasp on, with more anchors for the top jaw since it has lesser bone support.

Partial Dentures

When there are more than a few teeth remaining, a partial denture is the best solution. Partial dentures are removable and are made up of a gum-colored base with replacement teeth. These are attached to the teeth with precision connectors or clasps that are made of metal.

A more fitting partial denture is constructed with the crowns of the teeth to improve the precision of the attachments; this option can be expensive. Types of partial dentures include transitional and removable partial dentures.

Transitional Partial Dentures: Before dental implants can be installed where there are missing teeth, a temporary space maintaining replacement is issued. These transitional partial dentures are usually plastic and relatively cheap; plus they can be replaced once the extracted gum heals.

Removable Partial Dentures (RPDs): More subtle than the plastic transitional dentures, RPD is also lighter and are cast out of vitallium. These dentures are removable and pricier than the transitional partial dentures. However, they’re less expensive than fixed bridgework or dental implants.

A specialty dentist will strive to communicate with a dentures patient throughout the process for the competent provision of care and information. Dental prosthetics allow a patient to have the chance of using the mouth normally again after the loss of all or part of your teeth.

What is Denture Realignment?

Relining and rebasing are techniques that will realign the immediate dentures after the shrinkage of gums and the jaw. After a healing period of six to eight weeks, more conventional dentures can be issued. A preparation phase for the remaining teeth is done to make them stable and build better support for the dentures.

How are Specialty Dentures Fitted?

The specialty dentures process will probably consist of about five appointments for diagnosis, impression, wax bite, and jaw position determinations. To assure the proper fit, shape, and color of the dentures; a fitting is conducted during the last visit to a specialty dentist where minor adjustments may be made.

The jaw impression is used to measure the relationship of your bite which is the difference in distance between the upper and lower mandible. Dentures are then customized from the impression in a dental laboratory to fit snugly into your mouth.

A mold made from the jaw impression at the dental laboratory is fashioned and a wax base made. The laboratory technicians carve the wax into the exact likeness of your braces, and there can also be a test fitting to improve the fit.

If the lost wax method of casting is used, a mold is made from the wax dentures where the gum colored plastic is added. After, the mold is removed by melting the wax and polished, and the dentures are ready to be worn.

Is it Hard to Adjust to Your New Dentures?

After the dentures have been installed, the first few weeks typically feel bulky and awkward. The dentures take a bit of time to get accustomed in the mouth, but eventually, it feels normal. Since dentures need to be cleaned daily and removed before sleep, it will take some getting used to daily routines. As time goes by and with usage, your dentures should fit naturally. No force such as biting should be applied as this may break or bend the clasps.

This breaking into period can last as long as two or three months depending on individual cases. The easiest way for you to get accustomed to your dentures is by donning them all the time. It’s also the quickest way to find out whether your dentures need any adjustments. An area of the gum line or jaw that the dentures make sore should be checked.

What Steps Should You Take to Care for Your Dentures?

Just like real or implanted teeth it is important to keep your dentures in sterile condition. A denture brush comes in handy for daily brushing and is best to remove food particles over a sink with a towel underneath to avoid dropping and breaking them. There are denture cleansers that are recommended by the American Dental Association with their seal of acceptance on them.

In the case of partial dentures, teeth that are held by clasps must also be cleaned. Mild water and soap or dishwashing soap can also be used to clean dentures. Toothpaste and harsh household cleaners should be avoided in cleaning your dentures due to the abrasiveness of the detergent. Soak dentures that don’t have metallic claps in water or solution at night to prevent them from drying up and cracking.

Good oral hygiene is necessary even when you have removed your dentures. Morning and nighttime brushing of gums, palate, and tongue with soft bristle brushes are necessary for maintaining oral health. Brushing these parts of the mouth is necessary for the proper circulation and stimulation of your mouth while removing plaque and bacteria. A balanced diet that is mouth-friendly is also vital for proper hygiene and nutrition.

The materials that make dentures are advanced for a natural feel and experience, but require specific care. Diligence in caring for dentures must be observed such as regular daily brushing and visiting a specialty dentist to make adjustments or repairs. 

Well-tended dentures also allow the mouth to stay clean, healthy and well-intact which prevents irritation or infections. Brushing and rinsing dentures often, means it will leave the gums free to breathe while keeping the prosthetics supple and firm. Some techniques that you can use to keep your dentures clean include; 

  • Use water and soap with a strong toothpaste that is cream or paste-based available from a specialty dentist.
  • Don’t use chemicals and abrasive pastes or brush your dentures vigorously with a hard bristle brush.
  • Please avoid scratching or cracking your dentures by handling them carefully. Additionally, be careful not to drop your dentures which can loosen the teeth on your dentures.
  • Do not use hot water to water to clean your dentures as this may warp them. Use cool tepid water flowing from a sink while holding dentures with a soft cloth.
  • Using commercially available solutions for overnight soaking such as Polident or Efferdent is advisable. Make sure that your dentures are well rinsed and dried before placing them back in the mouth.
  • Use a separate toothbrush for dentures and any natural teeth or gums. You can also use a tissue or a soft cloth to wipe your gums instead of toothbrushes.

Once in a while, a thorough cleaning by a specialty dentist is needed for your dentures where ultrasonic machines will clear any tartar deposits or other accumulations. 

Denture Adjustments

As time passes, there may be some adjustments necessary to your dentures. The change to your mouth as you age will affect how dentures fit as the gum ridge and jaw bones shrink. The denture may become loose fitting and oversized, which can be adjusted to a tighter fit. Self-help in trying to mend the dentures will damage them beyond repair, and some standard adhesives can be poisonous.

Dentures that are broken or have cracks and chips should be brought to the specialty dentist clinic as soon as possible. Some issues can be fixed the same day at the dental office while some may require the dentures being sent to the laboratory.

The rebasing, relining or remodeling due to wear and tear is common for dentures that have been worn for a long time. Existing dentures are used to rebase and reline dentures when there is looseness or other malformations.

What Common Concerns Do Specialty Denture Patients Have?

Eating With the New Dentures

Eating takes getting used to after first wearing dentures, and large pieces are difficult to chew. Also, to prevent dentures from tipping, balanced chewing must be practiced. Hard and hot substances, shells and sharp bone edges can be detrimental if care is not observed.

Soft foods should be your main diet immediately once the dentures are worn. Utilize both sides of the mouth to chew food so that pressure is uniform on the dentures. During this denture adjustment period, hard or sticky foods including gum should be avoided.

Speaking With Your Dentures

Dentures also affect speech where certain phrases and words may not be easy to pronounce. Reading aloud and repeated pronunciation of problematic phrases should be practiced to rectify this gradually. 

Loose and Slipping Dentures

Slipping dentures are also another common problem when the wearer is laughing, coughing or sneezing. Gentle biting and constant swallowing should reposition and make the dentures firmer inside the mouth. Dentures that persistently slip and stay loose should be submitted to the specialty dental clinic for consultation and modification.

Can Denture Adhesives Help With Loose Dentures?

Special adhesives are available to hold down dentures to a snug fit. They are however not suitable for dentures that have aged or have produced sore spots in the mouth. Applying adhesive to such poorly fitting dentures will lead to the irritation of the sores. Relines or replacements are done to dentures that cause constant discomfort once they’re re-submitted to the specialty dentist.

Common Types of Specialty Dentures

Palateless Dentures

Covered soft palate dentures are a diversion from the traditional full mouth variety. Due to the diminished taste and other mouth function hampered by traditional dentures, palateless dentures address these issues. Prosthetic dentistry allows for dentures to be worn whose upper palate is significantly made redundant.

By freeing up the upper palate, it gives the upper palate greater functional freedom and alleviates gag reflexes that some specialty denture patients can suffer. Where the palate is having problems adjusting to the dentures, conventional palateless dentures with a horseshoe formation or over-dentures may be prescribed.

Precision-Attached Dentures

Combined with a bar of titanium, precision attached dentures are milled to implants or any remaining natural teeth. These contain clasps that can be snapped onto the attachments and exhibit a more significant improvement in denture retention. Other restorations like the All on Four retained dentures are also precision attachment varieties and provide a more natural feel to mouth and teeth. They, however, offer a more fixed routine since only a specialty dental practitioner can remove them.

Functionally-Impressed Dentures

For a more snug feel and comfort, dentures can be precisely impressed with more accuracy. These functionally impressed dentures are designed to fit into the mouth through custom fabrication. A Turby-Fill or Pound technique is used to mold a precise outline of the patient's mouth when they speak, chew or moves a muscle or tissue attachments. This more accurate impression mold provides a specialty dentures dentist the ability to detail the relining of acrylics for a more comfortable fit. 

Soft-Lined Dentures

From the function impression method, a soft-lined denture can be produced. This variety is lined with softer acrylic material for patients whose conventional dentures have resulted in jaw atrophy. A soft-lined denture has a more comfortable feel against a patient's mouth cavity compared to the hide lined variety.

Why Choose Specialty Dentures?

There is a myriad of risks that partial or total tooth loss poses to a person. Not only does toothlessness do no justice to facial aesthetics, but systemic and nutritional health disorders can also arise. Full and partial dentures are the viable solution to these risks, under the care of a specialty dentist. Normal facial contours can also be restored with dentures.

Missing teeth can be replaced using various options, some of which may include implants, dental bridgework amongst others. Though each technique will have its pros and cons, careful consideration of oral prosthetics that highlight and restore natural facial contours is essential. Specific requirements can also be met using varieties of dentures that range from over-dentures and partial dentures.

Find A Specialty Dentist Near Me

Partial or full dentures cover most of the alveolar bone or ridge of gum and will have projections designed to function like regular teeth. These prosthetics employ natural fit and palate support to stay in place and look natural. Properly fitted dentures complement the natural mouth’s surface area and facilitate the stable functioning of prosthetic teeth. Encino Dentist is available at 818-650-0429 to reinvigorate your oral functions after the loss of teeth. Call us today for a denture screening!