Taking the decision to have dentures is an important step in your journey towards a better laugh, smile, improved eating, and speaking. Be it one or two or your entire teeth that you are missing, with dentures you can chew food better as they provide support for your jaw and face muscles.

Some people quickly get used to the perks of having dentures, but it takes some time to get used to having this dental treatment.

Should you have had your teeth taken out due to tooth decay, gum disease, or serious body contact, you might want to consult our Corrimal dentist for more details on what to expect during a full or partial denture treatment including the benefits.

Here are some things you should prepare for:

Your first appointment

When you have decided to have dentures, your dentist will refer you to an expert denturist for your first consultation and fitting. Here, impressions of your teeth will be taken to design your permanent dentures. Your tooth will be extracted, and other dental preparations will follow suit as you keep visiting.

Tooth extraction

Upon taking your impressions, 5 to 8 teeth on each side of your mouth will be removed simultaneously. Should you have a few teeth left, all remaining chompers might be extracted in this appointment. When the inflammation and soreness have reduced, you will be asked to visit the clinic to take out a second set of 5 to 8 teeth, and it continues. You can visit the Corrimal dental clinic for a hassle-free tooth extraction.

Temporary dentures

Also called immediate dentures, these devices are used to cover up the missing teeth of patients awaiting their permanent dentures. Temporary dentures require regular relining since there is an adjustment of bones and gums as the mouth heals.

Permanent dentures

These dentures are fitted into the patient’s mouth after it has healed. This healing period usually spans up to 6 months. The first few weeks may see patients having difficulty speaking, eating, and experiencing soreness and stiffness in the jaw. Over time, all these discomforts will fade. Our expert Dapto dentists can help you with some pain-relieving techniques. For eating, it is recommended that your food should be cut into smaller pieces that are easy to chew particularly fruits and vegetables. 

Denture care

Just like people take care of their natural teeth, do the same for your dentures so that bacteria and plaque do not build up. Rinse your dentures very thoroughly after each meal, and have your tongue, gums, and remaining teeth cleaned properly before wearing them again. Also, brush your dentures with a non-abrasive toothpaste and soak them all night to prevent dryness.

Lastly, schedule an appointment with any of our dentists in Dapto to ensure your dentures fit snugly onto your gums as a tight or loose fit can trigger mouth sores.

We can help you prepare for your new dentures by providing useful advice and answering all your questions.

Contact us today!

People with missing teeth can get dentures as a replacement for their natural teeth. Although dentures may not be exact teeth replacement, they can help patients carry on with eating food.

Sometimes, patients using dentures can experience difficulties. Here are some of the problems typical with dentures and their solutions:

Eating difficulty 

It’s true that with dentures, you may not feel the pain from missing teeth, tooth infections, and other dental problems when you eat. However, some patients still experience some challenges in eating with dentures because it’s not the same as with your natural teeth. 

Fix

• Cut your food into smaller pieces before eating as there isn’t much room in your mouth for chewing with dentures
• Learn to chew your food slowly with both sides of your mouth. This will keep your dentures in position
• Don’t eat hard or sticky foods in the first few months of having your dentures. Foods like burgers and pizzas can make your dentures come loose
• See your dentist or visit a denture centre to be sure your dentures fit correctly. For a proper fit and ease of eating, your dentist may have to adjust your dentures periodically

Difficulty speaking 

Most patients experience problems speaking with dentures. Getting used to talking with dentures in your mouth may take a few days or weeks.

Fix

• Learn how to talk with your dentures either by reading aloud or singing along with your radio in private. Constant practice will make you feel more comfortable speaking.

Dentures not correctly positioned

• Try different adhesives to secure your dentures if they’re slipping slightly. Should you have any problem with slipping dentures, any of our denturists can recommend the best adhesive to use
• See a dentist if after using a good adhesive, the problem of slipping persists. They can help you adjust them.

Mouth infections

Tooth infections leading to chronic loss of teeth is why most patients go for dentures. So, it becomes scary when denture users have common denture infections. Patients can experience any of these two common mouth infections:

• Stomatitis: This infection typically affects the upper denture and is also a product of yeast overgrowth. It’s characterised by little reddish bumps along the roof of your mouth or general redness under your upper dentures. This infection can affect diabetic persons, those who take antibiotics or steroids, and people who don’t keep their dentures clean 
• Cheilitis: This one is caused by yeast overgrowth stemming from poorly fitting dentures. Painful inflammation, cracks in mouth corners are some of the symptoms.

Fix

• Consult your dentist if you’re having symptoms of these infections for proper denture care and treatment
• Practice good dental hygiene and keep your dentures clean always. Don’t sleep with your dentures in, rather soak them in a denture cleaner overnight. See your dentist for more tips and denture repairs.

With the right knowledge, you can get optimum results with your dentures. Don’t allow these problems disturb you.

Contact us for more information.

This is one question a lot of persons ask, especially those who are new to or considering dentures. One of the perks of having dentures is that people who need dentures don’t need surgery to fix them like in the case of a dental implant. So if you are afraid of pain and surgery, you can go for it. The procedure is minimally invasive, however, you have to wear your dentures for the whole day. Dentures are effective and easy. So, if you want a comfortable teeth replacement, the choice is yours to make. Finding the most comfortable dentures is dependent on several factors, like your dental health conditions and financial strength. 

Let us show you some other tips that can help you get dentures that are hassle-free.

Single or double teeth replacement

An implant bridge is ideal for closing the gap and connecting adjacent teeth where you are missing one or two teeth. However, if you require a denture, then a snap-on denture or flexible denture is the best. Flexible dentures rest easy on your gums; aligning with its features. With this, gum bruises are evaded, and your dentures can last forever. But there are certain things to consider regarding the position of the denture:

• Molars – A great amount of chewing pressure is exerted on the molars at the lower end of the teeth. Here, a bridge is the best recommendation rather than a flexible denture
• Upper front and bottom teeth – These teeth don’t experience so much pressure like those at the back and as such, appearance is most considered than strength. So, colour-matching partial dentures will be very comfortable as replacement treatment, so your dentures don’t look different from your adjacent teeth.
• Single or double back molars – You don’t need to replace a missing wisdom tooth! Why? It doesn’t affect your teeth activities like chewing and smiling. But in a case where two or more back molars are bad, supporting the implant with a denture becomes important. Should you prefer comfort, a partial denture is also a great recommendation.
• Replacing multiple teeth – If you are missing a large set of teeth, you should consider a partial supported or implant-supported denture for replacement.
• Full or complete denture – Where you need to replace most of your missing teeth, it is recommended you go for a full or complete denture as it is less expensive and provides more comfort as compared to denture implants.

Depending on the situation, quite a number of materials can be used to design dentures. For narrow dentures, metal will be most preferred over plastic as it has strength. You can also have an acrylic denture since it’s easy to mould making future adjustments easier.

We can help you in making a choice of the best dental treatment when you contact us. At our practice, all your questions and concerns will be taken care of by any of our experienced and smart denturists.

Get in touch with us today.

Many people experiencing partial or complete tooth loss benefit greatly from dentures. So, if you’re considering getting dentures to improve your mouth’s function, including aesthetics, you can actually get great results with this treatment. 

There are certain myths surrounding the use of dentures which might cause some concerns about having new dentures.

So, we’ll be showing you five myths about dentures you shouldn’t hold onto.

It’s difficult to eat with dentures:

Your mouth will need some time to heal and get used to having dentures after fitting them in. It’s recommended you eat soft foods like soup within the first few months and move gradually to consuming other food types. Within a few weeks, patients get used to their dentures. Even though they’re not like the natural teeth, a few adjustments here and there can see you return to eating all your favourite foods.

Dentures are fake-looking:

Unlike traditional dentures that look awkward, modern-day dentures are made of high-quality materials and resemble the natural teeth, with ease of blending with the contours of the mouth. Only dentures that aren’t properly positioned can be noticed, but you can fix this problem and others at a denture care clinic. You can go for implant-supported dentures (permanent dentures) as these last longer with proper care.

Dental implants are a better option to dentures:

It’s true that dental implants are best for many patients, but not everyone is eligible for it. For instance, diabetic persons or those experiencing excessive bone loss in the jaw may prefer dentures. Besides, the procedure for dentures is minimally invasive and less pricey than implants.

Denture repairs take so much time:

Dentures usually last between 4 to 7 years. Before now, it took weeks to get broken or cracked dentures repaired or replaced. This made people using dentures to buy another pair or go on without them. But now, with a dentist in Dapto, you can have your dentures repaired or replaced quickly and on the same day.

Dentures come with strange feelings:

Granted, dentures may not feel like your natural teeth. The real teeth are connected to nerves through their roots, making you to feel hot and cold sensations. With dentures, you may not feel exactly this way, but you’d experience certain sensations in the surrounding gum tissue. This difference will definitely be there, however many denture wearers with time get used to the feeling and find them comfortable.

Unlike dentures used in the past, today’s dentures are more quality and aesthetically pleasing. Amid all these outdated myths, you can be better informed by consulting a professional dentist to allay your fears and even know about varieties of dentures like acrylic dentures.

Are you considering dentures and thinking if they would be right for you?

Contact us at Illawarra Denture clinic. We offer a plethora of denture services at our practice. Our expert denturists are proficient in delivering denture repairs, relines and other services.