DENTURES

Dentures are a common treatment of choice to replace missing teeth. They are removable acrylic or metal frameworks which are made bespoke to fit comfortably in the mouth using support from any existing teeth and gums.

benefits of a denture:

It is always important to address any dental concerns relating to missing gaps and spaces. Dentures provide an effective solution to closing missing gaps.

  • Give you back a confident smile

  • Aid in speech and eating

  • Help maintain any remaining healthy teeth

  • Establish a stable bite

STAGES OF DENTURE TREATMENT:

Dentures are made bespoke to fit flush with your remaining teeth and gums. This requires detailed planning over multiple visits to ensure you are happy with your denture.

  1. Assessment, initial impressions and denture design

  2. Final impressions

  3. Registering your jaw relationship, bite and selecting your tooth shades and shape

  4. Denture try-in and fit

alternatives to a denture:

At Whitefield Dental, we offer several options to replace a missing tooth or gap. Our clinicians can discuss all the treatment options available to you and recommend which option is best suited to your needs. These options may include:

  • Dental implants - A gold standard long-term option of replacing a missing gap. Uses a grade 4 titanium screw which fuses into your bone providing a natural and seamless finish.

  • Dental bridge - a false tooth which is bridged/connected to a natural tooth to replace a missing gap.

  • Dentures require no drilling of the teeth so it is a painless procedure. If you require teeth to be removed prior to designing your dentures then this will be done under local anaesthesia.

    Our clinicians are trained and committed to making your treatment as comfortable as possible. Please do not hesitate to voice any concerns with any of our clinicians during your appointment.

  • Before deciding to go ahead with dentures, it is important to understand the potential problems that may arise from them.

    • Dentures are removable so they are not a fixed option to replacing a gap .

    • Dentures may take some time to get used to, especially if it is your first denture. The adjustment period can be uncomfortable for some.

    • Dentures get their support and stability from nearby structures such as your gums and bone. As these are dynamic and can change, this can affect the fit of your denture over time, making them loose or hard to fit on.

    • Dentures may affect your speech initially, this will improve over time.

    • Dentures require long-term care and maintenance in order to keep them and your mouth clean and free of bacteria.

  • Dentures use retention from surrounding structures such as your gums and palate as well as your saliva to create a suction force to maintain your dentures in place.

    If your dentures come loose, you can try to bite onto them gently to ensure they are sitting on your gums comfortably and swallow a couple of times to create a suction force using your saliva.

    In some cases, you can use denture fixative creams such as ‘Fixodent’ or ‘Polygrip’ to aid in retaining your denture in place.

  • If taken care of correctly, dentures can last a lifetime. Sometimes this can be out of your control, in cases where your gums or mouth may change slightly in shape and form rendering your dentures loose and ill-fitting.

    If you experience any problems with your dentures, speak with your dentist to plan ahead and find solutions to your denture concerns.