Quality Dentures in Nepean

Complete Dentures at Our Nepean Clinic

Dentures are removable appliances that can replace missing teeth and help restore your smile. If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth for any given reason, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health, because dentures make it easier to eat and speak. When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you look older. Dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. 

There are 3 different kinds of complete dentures:

Conventional:

It is made and placed in your mouth after the remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed, which may take a few months.

Immediate:

This denture is inserted on the same day that the remaining teeth are removed. Your dentist will take measurements and make models of your jaw during a preliminary visit. You don’t have to be without teeth during the healing period, but may need to have the denture relined or remade after your jaw has healed.

Overdenture:

Sometimes, some of your teeth can be saved to preserve your jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture. An overdenture fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth after they have been prepared by your dentist. Implants can serve the same function too.

What to expect after your complete denture is inserted in your mouth:

• New dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. The dentures may feel loose while the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place. 
• It is not unusual to experience minor irritation or soreness. You may find that saliva flow temporarily increases. As your mouth becomes accustomed to the dentures, these problems should go away. Follow-up appointments with the dentist are generally needed after a denture is inserted so the fit can be checked and adjusted.

Removable Partial Dentures

They usually consist of replacement teeth attached to gum-colored acrylic bases. Partial dentures at our Nepean clinic is designed based on your needs and may have a metal framework and clasps that connect to your teeth, or they can have other connectors that are more natural-looking. A removable partial denture may be designed to attach to your natural teeth with devices called precision attachments, which are more aesthetic than clasps.
Crowns on your natural teeth are sometimes needed to improve the fit of a removable partial denture.

What to expect after your removable partial denture is inserted in your mouth:

• Your new partial denture may feel awkward or bulky in the beginning, but you will eventually become accustomed to wearing it. 
• Inserting and removing the partial denture will require some practice. Follow all instructions given by your dentist. Never force the partial denture into position by biting down. This could bend or break the clasps.
• At first, you may be asked to wear your partial denture all the time. This may initially be uncomfortable, but it's the quickest way to identify areas that may need adjustment. If the denture puts too much pressure on a specific area, that spot will become sore. Your dentist will adjust the partial denture to fit more comfortably. After making adjustments, your dentist will probably recommend that you take the partial denture out of your mouth before going to bed and replace it in the morning. 
• Eating should become a more pleasant experience with dentures. Start out by eating soft foods that are cut into small pieces. Chew on both sides of the mouth to keep even pressure on both sides. Avoid foods that are extremely sticky or hard. You may want to avoid chewing gum during the adjustment period.
• Partial dentures can also help improve your speech. If you find it difficult to pronounce certain words, practise reading out loud. Repeat the words that give you trouble. With time, you will become accustomed to speaking properly with your partial denture.

What to do when you have a complete or partial denture:

• You still need to practice good oral hygiene, even if you wear full dentures. 
• Brush your gums, tongue and roof of your mouth every morning with a soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.
• When brushing, clean your mouth thoroughly, including your gums, cheeks, roof of your mouth and tongue to remove any plaque. This can help reduce the risk of oral irritation and bad breath.

How to Clean Your Dentures

• Thoroughly rinse off loose food particles.
• Brush all denture surfaces gently to avoid damaging the plastic or bending the attachments.
• Using hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid to clean dentures is acceptable. However, most household cleaners are too abrasive and should not be used for cleaning dentures. Do not use toothpaste since it can be too harsh for cleaning dentures. Your dentist can recommend a denture cleaner. Look for denture cleansers with the ADA/CDA Seal of Acceptance.
• Brush the denture with a soft-bristled toothbrush every day to remove food debris and plaque. This helps the denture from becoming permanently stained.
• A denture could lose its proper shape if it is not kept moist. At night, the denture should be placed in soaking solution or water. Don’t chew, swallow or gargle with denture cleansers.
• Always thoroughly rinse the denture before placing it in your mouth.

Adjustments for Complete or Partial Dentures

People wearing full dentures may occasionally use adhesives. Adhesives come in many forms - creams, powders, pads/wafers, strips or liquids. If you use one of these products, read the instructions and use them exactly as directed. Look for products with the ADA/CDA Seal of Acceptance. Products with the ADA Seal have been evaluated for safety and effectiveness.

Over time, adjusting the denture may be necessary. As you age, your mouth naturally changes, which can affect the fit of the denture. Your bone and gum ridges can recede or shrink, resulting in a poorly fitting denture.

A reliable dentist in Nepean should adjust dentures that do not fit a patient properly. Poorly fitted dentures can cause various problems, including sores or infections. See your dentist if your denture becomes loose and maintain your regular visits too.

You can do serious harm to your denture and to your health by trying to adjust or repair your denture. In many cases, dentists can make necessary adjustments or repairs, often on the same day. Complicated repairs may require that the denture be sent to a special dental laboratory. 

Implants

Dental implants are essentially artificial tooth roots. They can replace a single missing tooth, multiple missing teeth, support a denture or restore an entire mouth. Dental implants are made of primarily titanium. Titanium is strong and is compatible with bone and oral tissue. Titanium post can hold a crown, bridge or over-denture just like roots hold natural teeth in place.

Implants are a durable alternative to dentures and can serve as anchors for bridges. They require the same maintenance as natural teeth; this includes brushing, flossing and regular dental check-ups. An implant’s greatest advantage over conventional bridges, is that the adjacent teeth don’t need to be shaved to support a replacement for the missing tooth.

Bone Graft

Adequate bone volume must be present in the area of the missing teeth in order to support the future implant. Following tooth loss, the patient’s bone and gums in the area of the missing tooth tend to shrink. In cases there is not enough remaining bone to support a dental implant, an additional procedure called bone grafting may be needed to rebuild the bone. This can be done as a separate procedure, or simultaneously with the placement of the dental implant. A straight forward implant, with adequate bone, would be less expensive than an implant and bone grafting procedure. In addition, more complex cases may require a CBCT (medical imaging) or a surgical guide.

Sinus Lift

Sinus lift surgery can help increase bone levels by raising the sinus floor and developing bone for the placement of dental implants. Several techniques can be used to raise the sinus and allow for new bone to form. A common technique is to make an incision, to expose the bone. Then a small circle is cut into the bone. This bony piece is lifted into the sinus cavity, much like a trap door, and the space underneath is filled with bone graft material. We will explain your options for graft materials. Finally, the incision is closed and healing is allowed to take place. The bone will be allowed to develop for about four to twelve months depending on individual needs, before implants can be placed. After the implants are placed, an additional healing period is required. In some cases, the implant can be placed at the same time the sinus is augmented. Sinus lift surgery increases your chances for successful implants, that can last for years to come.

What to Expect?

Following the placement of a dental implant, the implant must be allowed to fuse with the jaw bone, usually for a period of 3 to 6 months. Once the implant has fused to the bone, the final restoration could be connected to the implant. Sometimes, a temporary tooth replacement can be made for the healing period. Therefore, you won't have to be without teeth during the process.