Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are detachable replacement or substitute of all the upper and/or lower teeth of the patient. Complete dentures are typically made from materials like acrylic resin and porcelain and may sometimes combine with metal for additional structural support.

There are many possible factors that makes patient a candidate for complete dentures. One obvious reason for the need of complete dentures is severe tooth decay which is way beyond the point of repair and when root canal therapy is not a desirable solution anymore. Anodontia or the absence of permanent teeth as an effect of genetic disorder is also another possible reason for the patient to be resort for complete dentures. Other factors include obtaining physical injuries from automobile accidents or sports related accidents. Dentures restore the ability to chew food while helping to improve the facial appearance and boost the self esteem of a person.

Properly made dentures with an accurate custom fit will head off most of these problems before they even come up and all of this can be difficult to deal with. The teeth may be relined, if necessary, to match up more precisely the new dentures. For a better fit and to eliminate any sore spots on the natural gums, the denture base can be also further polished or adjusted. The key to denture comfort is a close accurate fit. During the healing period after the extractions, usually within eight weeks before fitting dentures, the gums will allow the shrinkage to occur in the boney ridge. Healing time should be considered since relines and adjustments can become expensive. Patients begin wearing conventional dentures after healing the teeth that were pulled.

There are challenges that patient may face in acquiring and learning to use the new dentures. It includes difficulty in speaking and chewing, wherein the food may actually work its way up under the denture base. These new dentures may at times, come loose from the gum ridge and may also slip around a little. The patient may also feel awkward as the new dentures feel foreign to the mouth. The lower denture generally takes a little more work for most patients to get used to because of insufficient height of bone and the presence of tongue. The tongue tends to increase in size in a restricted mouth and it may tend to play with the new dentures even subconsciously but it will soon become accustomed to the restrictions and to the new feeling that a denture presents. It is also natural to feel fullness of the mouth with new dentures and expect to have excessive surge of saliva. This uncomfortable sensation and feeling usually goes away within a first week of wearing the newly fit dentures.

It is very common to experience some discomfort associated with sore spots during the adjustment period because the gum tissue is soft compared to the hard plastic base of dentures. If sore spots develop, patients are advices to continuously wear the denture for at least 24 hours prior to adjustment visit to allow the dentist to spot the actual sore for him to make the necessary adjustments. Reading out loud during the first week is highly encouraged because it helps reduce any speech problems which may result from wearing a new denture.

When eating with newly fit dentures, start with soft foods for the first couple of days and then progress slowly to more solid food each day. When chewing food, try as much as possible to place same amount of food on both side of the jaw to balance the biting force on the entire mouth.

Proper cleaning of dentures is necessary to maintain its appearance and to preserve the health of the patient’s gums. Aside from regular brushing, dentures are necessary to be soaked in water with baking soda once in a while. There are some commercial denture cleaners that poorly react with denture liners so it would be wise to ask the dentist about this matter.

Gums should be likewise cleaned and brushed with soft bristle regularly. It is also recommended to allow gum tissue to breathe by taking out dentures during bedtime. This will relieve the gums from constant pressures of mastication.