Full Dentures

Like many things in life, the importance of something is never truly appreciated until it is gone. If you have lost your teeth whether by injury, tooth decay, or gum disease you surely understand. The good news is that you have options to replace them. Dentures can help restore you way of life by helping you with day to day functions, such as eating and speaking, as well as help restore your confidence by improving your appearance and smile. Making a denture is a process that usually takes about six to twelve weeks, however this can vary from one patient to another. It also depends on the type of the denture and the technique your dentist or the laboratory technician uses to make the denture. Complete dentures are made using your mouth as a model. First, your dentist will take an accurate impression of the upper and lower arches of your mouth. This impression is then sent to the dental laboratory. At the next visit, the dentist will record the relationship of the arches that best resembles your original bite and helps you select the shape and color of the denture teeth and gums. Keep in mind the color of everyone’s gums varies. To make a more natural denture your dentist will help you choose the shade that best matches your mouth. In the subsequent visits, your dentist will adjust your bite, test your speech, and check the appearance and functionality of the denture teeth and gums. After a satisfactory fit and appearance are achieved the denture is then sent back to the laboratory for fabrication. While every effort is made to make a good and functional denture please keep in mind that there is no such thing as a perfect denture. After delivery of the denture it may require a few adjustment visits and some time for you and your new denture to adapt to each other. The most important point to remember is that adjusting to your new dentures is a process. It sometimes it takes a little time to get used to. A new denture can also alter your eating and speaking habits and it make require a bit of practicing before you get comfortable. Finally, due to the differences in the shapes of the jaws and the strong muscle movement of the tongue and cheek, a lower denture may be harder to keep in the mouth compared to an upper denture. There are new advances in making dentures. One such advance is an implant supported denture that stabilizes the denture. This kind of denture requires the placement of implants in your mouth before making the dental appliance. If you have any additional questions, please consult your dentist..