Denture Care

Why might I need dentures?

If you are missing several teeth or a full arch of your teeth, dentures can be used to replace the function and appearance of your natural teeth. All our dentists are highly skilled in creating comfortable and natural-looking dentures with the scope to customise them for additional character. If you would like a removable solution to restore your smile, dentures could be ideal for you.

It is important to replace missing teeth, even if just one is missing. If left untreated, your chewing and speaking can be affected. As additional strain is put on the remaining teeth, your bite can become increasingly misaligned or teeth deteriorate at a quicker rate. The missing teeth and bones can also cause your face to sag and make you look older.

What are the advantages of dentures?

There are a number of benefits to choosing dentures to replace your missing teeth.

• You will have a full, natural-looking smile
• Dentures are durable and long-lasting
• They enable you to eat more foods and speak comfortably
• They can easily be removed and cleaned
• They give support to any remaining teeth and the soft tissues
• The provision of a denture is minimally invasive and requires little or no drilling

How do dentures work?

Complete dentures – These replace a full arch of missing teeth. An acrylic plastic base, coloured to match your gums, with a full set of teeth usually made from resin is fitted over your own gums. By taking precise measurements of your mouth, we work closely with our dental technicians who will custom make your complete dentures so that they fit snugly over your gums.

Partial dentures – These replace one or more teeth and are used if you still have some of your own teeth. The replacement teeth are specially created to fit the gaps you have, and to match your remaining teeth so no one can tell. These are usually fixed to a metal framework that is hidden with the smart design of the denture. This type of denture can clip to your natural teeth to hold them in place to give you more confidence. Partial dentures can now also be made from 3D technology in an ultra-light resin framework.

Implant retained dentures – These are a more permanent solution for partial or complete dentures. Denture stabilisation uses implants to secure dentures in place. Implants are small titanium screws that are placed permanently in the jaw bone. The implant provides a fixed, permanent anchor onto which your dentures can be secured.

Implant retained dentures offer a number of benefits over removable dentures:

• They fit more securely to your gums with less movement
• They feel less intrusive
• They look and feel more like real, natural teeth
• It’s easier to bite and chew with them
• Implants stimulate bone growth

It can take a while to get used to your new dentures, but modern dentures are more comfortable and natural-looking than ever. It is normal to expect a slight change in speech or eating when your new dentures are fitted, but your mouth and dentures will adapt to each other. It is important to wear them in like a pair of shoes. Soon your dentures, whether implant retained, complete or partial, will feel just like your regular teeth.

How to care for your dentures

Dentures must be cared for as if they were your natural teeth. Plaque can develop on dentures in much the same way as it can on natural teeth, which can put you at risk of gum disease. With removable dentures, we recommend you take them out and clean them thoroughly with a soft brush. Some use toothpaste but these can be more abrasive long-term to the surface of your dentures. They should then be rinsed and soaked in a denture cleaner.

Remember to keep your mouth clean too, by gently brushing your teeth, gums, and tongue.

If you’d like to learn more about our dentures or have any questions about how to care for yours, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Call our friendly team today on 01536 214 144. We look forward to hearing from you.