Dentures
What is a Denture?
Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth. They are supported by surrounding soft and hard tissues of the mouth.
How many types of dentures are there?
There are 3 main types:
Partial dentures Replacement of some teeth
Complete or full dentures Replacement of all the teeth
Implant Supported Dentures Replacement of some or all teeth using few dental implants to support denture.
What are dentures made of?
- Plastic.
Dentures made entirely of plastic - Cobalt Chromium.
It has a a skeleton made of cobalt chromium with mesh holding the plastic portion of the denture. Cobalt Chromium is a strong, durable metal therefore palatal coverage with this metal need not be thick. Thus, patients find Cobalt Chromium denture more comfortable and also able to feel “temperature” of food .
Chrome Denture
Flexi Denture
Important of replacement of missing tooth and/or teeth. What happens if I do not
- Drifting of adjacent teeth and over-eruption of opposing teeth -> possible decay
- Difficulty in eating -> indigestion
- Loss of youthful look
- Loss of Lip support
- Difficulty in speaking
- Bone loss in areas where teeth used to be -> loss of facial contours which will affect the appearance.
Options to Replace
- Dentures
- Fixed Bridges
- Implant supported crowns or bridges. (Medisave claimable)
Advantages of Dentures
- Fast
- Affordable
- No need to sacrifice adjacent healthy teeth
- Preserve facial contours and appearance.
Disadvantages of Dentures
- Requires some time to get used to
- Difficulty speaking for first-time users
- Difficulty chewing certain foods
- Can cause foods to taste differently
- May not be retentive
What is the process of denture treatment?
- Pre-treatment evaluation and Treatment Planning.
- Examination & Diagnosis
- X-ray ( OPG full mouth diagnosis)
- Impressions
- Try-in 2 weeks later
- Testing trial fitting of wax denture
- Shade confirmation
- Trial Retention
Denture Issue 2 weeks later
How soon can I eat and function after my dentures get fit?
Immediately.
How long to wait after extraction? How long do I have to wait until I get my teeth?
Depending on the level of difficulty of the extraction, presence of infection, bone quality and quantity, gum and bone recovery usually takes 2 to 3 months.
- Immediately
- Patients whose work and social life are affected should consider getting dentures as soon as possible. This is especially so for patients with missing or extracted front teeth.
- Dentures can be issued straight after extraction. An impression needs to be taken earlier for fabrication of the denture.
- After 1 to 3 months of proper healing, provisional dentures need to be replaced with new, better fitting dentures
- 1-3 months
- Full healing of gum and bone impressions are taken for fabrication of the new dentures. New dentures are issued 1 to 2 visits thereafter.
- Reline and rebase by addition of plastic/acrylic to existing provisional dentures is possible, but will not be able to fit the resorbed bone ridge perfectly.
Is it Painful?
It will take some time for you to get used to your new dentures. If you experience persistent pain or discomfort , please seek medical attention from your dentist.
How to take care of my dentures?
- Brush your dentures twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush to remove food and plaque.
- Wash your dentures with a denture cleaner, mild hand soap, or an ultrasonic cleaner. Never use household products to clean dentures (e.g. toothpaste or any harsh, abrasive cleaner) as these can damage your dentures.
- When not in use, your dentures should always be kept soaked in water at room temperature (not hot as heat can alter its shape) or in a denture-soaking solution as recommended by your dentist. If your dentures have metal parts that may tarnish, ask your dentist for advice on how to store them.
- Never wrap your dentures in a paper towel because they could easily get disposed of.