Dentures: Find Out More
If you have missing or severely damaged teeth and are not confident with your smile, you do have options. Dentures are a common solution that restores a healthy smile. The technology behind dentures has improved greatly in recent years, and today’s complete dentures are more comfortable and look more natural than ever before.
What Are Dentures, Exactly?
While it’s almost certain that you’ve heard of dentures before, you probably don’t know exactly what they are. In the simplest terms, a denture is a removable dental appliance that replaces missing teeth and the adjacent tissues. A denture is typically made of acrylic resin, but it may also be made in conjunction with certain metals.
Complete dentures replace all of the teeth on either the top, bottom or both. Partial dentures, on the other hand, fill in the spaces between missing teeth, and the prevent the remaining teeth from changing positions.
Who Is a Candidate for Dentures?
If you have missing teeth that make it difficult to chew or make you self-conscious about your appearance, you are probably a good candidate for dentures. Candidates for complete dentures are people who have already lost most or all of their teeth, while candidates for partial dentures still have some of their natural teeth.
How Are Dentures Made?
Getting dentures is a process that usually takes about a month and requires a series of appointments. First, an initial diagnosis is made. Then an impression and wax bite are made in order to determine the dimensions for the dentures and how the jaws relate to each other. During this step, the color of your natural teeth is also determined. Using this information, a dental laboratory creates what is known as a “wax try-in”. This is wax carved to your specific measurements with teeth in place. This wax try-in allows your me to ensure that the finished denture will fit you properly and make any adjustments, if necessary.
The denture is completed by making a mold of the wax try-in. The wax is removed from the mold, and the space left behind is filled with a pink plastic dough that is hardened using heat. Once fully hardened, the denture is polished, and it is ready for wear.
Are Dentures Comfortable?
Whether you get a complete set of dentures or a partial, it will take a little bit of time to get used to. Though it may feel a bit awkward or bulky at first, your mouth should become accustomed to wearing it within the first couple weeks. At first, you may need to wear your denture all the time to identify any areas that need adjustment. If the denture causes soreness, it can be adjusted to fit more comfortably.
Additional adjustments may be needed over time. As you age, your mouth will naturally change, which could affect the way your denture fits. If your denture feels like it doesn’t fit like it used to or your experience problems like cracks, chips or loose teeth, make an appointment to have it repaired right away.
If you think dentures may be right for you, give us a call at 303-688-2229 today!