Dentures in Apopka, FL

Dentures are still an option for replacing multiple teeth

Dentures are required less frequently now than they were in previous generations. One of the reasons is people are taking better care of their teeth than they did in the past. The days of people losing large sections of teeth to decay or periodontal disease is not as commonplace as it once was, but dentures continue to be a treatment option for patients who need entire sections of teeth to be replaced.

Partial or full dentures are still a treatment option for patients, depending on the individual need. Partial dentures are used when some of a patient’s natural teeth remain. Full dentures are used when the patient has no natural teeth remaining.

There are two types of full dentures.

Conventional full dentures: This appliance is fabricated after all the natural teeth are removed from a patient’s mouth. The patient could be without teeth for months because the denture will not be placed until the mouth and gum tissue have had a sufficient amount of time to heal.

Immediate full dentures: When this application is used, the denture is ready to be placed in the mouth immediately after the teeth are removed. The procedure requires precise measurements of the mouth and teeth to be taken in advance, and for the denture to be fabricated before the natural teeth are removed based on those measurements. When the appliance is ready, the natural teeth are pulled and the dentures are placed in the mouth. The benefit of this procedure is the patient is not without teeth for an extended period of time.

Follow-up visits will be needed by the patient regardless of the procedure. The follow-ups allow a dentist to adjust the denture if the jawbone has slightly changed shape as the mouth heals. Dentures usually need to be tightened as the jaw heals.

Partial dentures: A partial denture is similar to a bridge, and is used when some natural teeth remain. A partial denture is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

Patients must have patience because mouths need to adjust to the dentures. When the flesh-colored base of the appliance is placed over the gum, patients often complain that the denture is too bulky and gets in the way of the tongue. Many patients complain of speech difficulties during the first few months of wearing dentures as the tongue adjusts to the presence of the denture.

Until the patient gets accustomed to wearing the denture, it will likely feel loose or feel like it doesn’t fit correctly. Over time, the mouth will grow accustomed to the denture and it will become a natural part of the mouth.

Care for a denture like it is a natural tooth. The denture should be removed from the mouth and brushed to remove plaque and food particles. After the denture is brushed, it should be placed in room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution.

Never use hot water because it could warp the denture and handle a denture with care. It’s a delicate appliance and patients should never attempt to adjust a denture at home. All adjustments should be administered by a dentist.

Call our Apopka Smiles office at 407-788-6888 for more information about dentures or to schedule an appointment.

Call us today 407-788-6888