Dentures

What are dentures?

A denture is a removable prosthesis used to replace missing teeth. Commonly referred to as ‘false teeth’, a denture is usually made of acrylic or a combination of acrylic and metal. A partial denture is fitted to replace some missing teeth whilst a complete denture is indicated when all-natural teeth are missing. A good set of dentures helps you to eat, speak, function, and often improves a person’s appearance. We also offer a ‘Flexi’ denture, which is nylon-based and fits your mouth more comfortably when the denture acclimatizes to body temperature. Flexi dentures are not suitable for all cases.

 

How long does it take to make dentures?

Depending on the complexity of each case, the duration of the treatment will vary but the average period of time to make a new denture can be between 4-6 weeks. After the initial visit of examination and diagnosis, the subsequent visits will include taking initial impressions of the mouth, specialised impressions and bite registration, try-in of the denture, fitting and review.

 

What to expect?

New dentures always feel strange when first placed in your mouth. Several days or weeks will be required before you get accustomed to them. Adaptation varies from person to person and often time and experience are essential before dentures can be worn comfortably and function effectively. Having new dentures are like having a new pair of shoes, they take a little while to get used to wearing them.

 

Useful suggestions to help you to adapt to the new dentures:

Eating – Eating will take a little practice. Start with soft foods and foods cut into small pieces. Chew slowly using both sides of your mouth at the same time to prevent dentures from tipping. Once you become accustomed to chewing, include other foods until you return to your normal diet.

Increased salivary flow – You may experience an increase in salivary flow when the dentures are first inserted. This is a natural response of the salivary glands that will return to normal after a few weeks. You can improve the situation by swallowing more often.

Speech – New dentures may alter your speech initially. Pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating troublesome words will speed up the adaptation process. This problem rarely persists beyond two weeks.

Sore spots – Minor irritation caused by surface irregularities or pressure spots on the denture-bearing areas are quite common. Your dentist will relieve the discomfort by adjusting the denture surface. Stop wearing the denture if the irritation is very painful. Consult your dentist immediately. In some cases, rinsing your mouth with warm salt water can help promote the healing of the sore spots.

It is essential that you keep your denture clean, whether it is partial or a full denture. If your denture is partial, it is even more important as you will be trapping more bacteria around the teeth that it’s seated around. Ensuring good oral hygiene with a denture is invaluable. We also recommend removing your denture at night.