Dentures

Complete Guide to Dentures

If you have several or more missing teeth, you may be wondering:

“Should I get dentures?”

To help you make an informed decision, we’ll answer your questions and discuss all you need to know about dentures.

What are dentures?

• Sets of artificial teeth that replace missing teeth
• A solution to improve your chewing, speaking, jawline shape, and smile
• Either partial or full dentures
• Custom-made device for your mouth

Partial Denture

• Used when you’re missing several teeth but still have other healthy teeth in your mouth
• Used if your natural teeth aren’t healthy enough to support a bridge
• Hooked to your teeth using clips or crowns on your natural teeth
• Made of acrylics, acrylics/metal, or plastic
• Preserves the natural placement of your teeth
• Many designs are comfortable and unnoticeable

Full Denture

• Used when you’re missing all or most of your teeth
• Replaces all of your natural teeth in the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both
• May require the removal of damaged teeth
• Usually made of plastic and looks like natural teeth and gums
• Held in place by suction or anchored on the roots of teeth or dental implants

Overdentures

• Fits over a small number of natural teeth or implants
• May require the reshaping of natural teeth or the installation of implants
• Preserves your jawbone and natural teeth

Do you need dentures?

• Missing teeth cause saggy facial muscles, impaired pronunciation, and diet restrictions
• Missing teeth cause bite alignment issues that can lead to TMJ disorders
• Dentures address these potential health concerns and benefit your appearance
• Dentures can look like your natural teeth and improve the look of your smile

How to care for your dentures?

• Dentures require cleaning every day to stop plaque and tartar that can spread to your natural gums and teeth
• Rinse your dentures before brushing
• Brush your entire dentures with a soft bristle toothbrush and denture cleaner
• Rinse your dentures before putting them back in your mouth
• Clean and massage your gums while you’re not using your dentures
• Brush and floss any natural teeth
• Store your dentures in water to keep them from drying or warping
• Look for cracks in your dentures

What are dentures?

Dentures are sets of artificial teeth made to replace the teeth that you have lost.

The Government of Alberta lists many benefits of dentures, such as:

• Restoring your ability to bite and chew food
• Helping you speak more clearly
• Improving the shape of your jawline
• Giving you a natural smile

There are two types of dentures: partial and full. With both kinds of dentures, we take an impression of your teeth to custom-make your dentures so that it fits your mouth perfectly.

The U.S. National Library of Medicine notes that dentures will feel strange at first when speaking and eating. In the beginning, we may follow-up with you frequently to make sure that your dentures fit.

Partial Denture

Are you missing several teeth but still have other healthy teeth in your mouth?

You could be a match for partial dentures.

According to the Canadian Dental Association, partial dentures are an effective solution for teeth that aren’t healthy enough for a dental bridge, or when many teeth are missing.

Partial dentures may be hooked to your remaining teeth using clips, or they may attach to crowns on your natural teeth. We make dentures from materials like acrylics, a metal/acrylic combination, or plastic.

One great benefit that the Denturist Association of Alberta highlights is how partial dentures preserve and support the natural placement of your teeth for a more robust and stable bite.

Further, many new partial dentures feature comfortable and unnoticeable designs.

Full Denture

If you’re missing all or most of your teeth, full dentures could be right for you.

The Institute for Quality and Efficiency in Health Care describes a full denture as an apparatus that replaces all of the natural teeth in the upper jaw, lower jaw, or both.

If you have some damaged teeth remaining, we will remove them before installing your dentures.

Full dentures are usually made of plastic and are designed to look like natural teeth. Additionally, they have a flesh-coloured acrylic base that fits over your gums. They may be held in place by suction or anchored on the roots of teeth or dental implants.

Overdentures

Having trouble with your complete dentures?

You may be a candidate for overdentures.

An overdenture is a removable denture that fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth or implants. In this case, we will either reshape the remaining natural teeth or install small implants into the jawbone that attach to the overdenture.

According to the American Dental Association, sometimes some of your teeth can be saved to preserve your jawbone and provide stability and support for an overdenture.

Do you need dentures?

Whether you’ve lost your teeth from gum disease, tooth decay, or injury, there is more to consider than just your appearance:

Teeth are vital to the structure of the face. Missing teeth will cause your facial muscles to sag, make pronunciation difficult, and restrict your diet and nutrition. Additionally, missing teeth can cause bite alignment issues that can lead to TMJ disorders.

But here’s the good news:

The American Dental Association notes that dentures can address these health risks. Further, dentures can be made to look like your natural teeth and, in many cases, improve the look of your smile.

How to care for your dentures?

Like your natural teeth, you will need to clean your dentures every day.

Otherwise, the Canadian Dental Association warns that plaque and tartar can build up on your dentures and cause stains, bad breath, and gum problems. Additionally, the plaque from your dentures may end up on your natural teeth and gums, causing gum disease, tooth decay, and cavities.

The American Dental Association and the Canadian Dental Association recommend these steps for your new oral hygiene routine:

• Rinse your dentures before brushing to remove any loose food or debris
• Brush all of the surfaces and clasps of the dentures carefully with a soft bristle toothbrush and denture cleaner
• Rinse your dentures in clean water before placing them back in your mouth
• Clean and massage your gums thoroughly when you remove dentures
• Brush and floss any natural teeth if you have partial dentures
• Store your dentures in a safe place covered in water to keep them from drying or warping when you’re not using them
• Look for cracks in your dentures and bring them to us for repairs if you find any