When you are missing all or some of your teeth, it can be difficult to enjoy the simplest things in life, such as smiling or even having favorite meals. If you want to live a full life again, you might want to think about getting dentures for yourself. At The Whittier Dentist, we have dentures experts who can customize and comfortably fit you for either partial or full dentures that will look good and work just as well as your natural teeth. We welcome you to visit our practice in the City of Whittier, CA, today.

Understanding Specialty Dentures

Most dental patients are conversant with detachable dental appliances called dentures that are used to replace lost teeth. Dentures do not only enhance your look, but they additionally make talking and eating much simpler and help promote dental health. Even though you might not be aware of it, specialty dentures come in different designs and can be customized to a patient's special needs. They include:

  • Removable Full Dentures

These restorations are the "false teeth" which most people seem to think of once dentures cross their minds. However, significant progress has been made in recent years to make these removable dentures snugger and natural-looking. The teeth are meticulously carved using translucent porcelain, whereas the base is fashioned from a substance with a plastic base.

They use a paste that the dentist recommends to fit them securely over a patient's gum ridges. You can be confident that your dentist will remain at the heart of the creation and setting of your dentures, ensuring that these dental substitutes look natural and stunning not only to you but also to the people you interact with.

  • Removable Partial Dentures

If you do have a few healthy and natural teeth, your dentist could advise you to fill the gaps with removable partial dentures. These resemble smaller versions of their full versions, but instead of resin bases, they feature metal clasps attached to them that connect to the remaining "anchor" teeth that are still present in the mouth. They provide the same perks as full dentures as they enhance your ability to eat, communicate, and safeguard the health of your remaining natural teeth.

  • Implant-Supported Dentures

These are a cutting-edge method of wearing complete dentures. Tooth implants, which the dentist inserts under the gum line, contain connectors to which the dentures can latch, providing a sturdy and secure solution for the denture plates to remain intact. Based on what you, as the patient, and your dentist think is ideal, these attachments could either be permanent or detachable.

The Advantages of Specialty Dentures

There are several reasons why people lose their teeth. Some patients pick dental implants to restore missing teeth, others try to compensate for tooth loss with lifestyle changes, and others prefer dentures. These enable persons who have lost a significant number of teeth to enjoy normal lives. If you're thinking about getting dentures, read on to find out the main advantages that dentures can offer you.

  • Maintain the Structure of Your Face

Your face's appearance is significantly influenced by your teeth's bone structure. Whenever you lose most or all of your teeth, your bone structure is also lost. This has a significant impact on how you look. Fortunately, dentures can assist in regaining the structure that has been lost when you lose your teeth. Your prosthodontist will take into account the curvature of your face while designing your dentures. Your dentures will be made to retain the facial features you had before losing your teeth.

  • Restore Your Smile

For many patients, tooth loss commonly occurs over a long period. This results in years of humiliation as well as self-consciousness for a majority of people regarding the state of their smiles. If you belong to this group, you've probably devised measures to avoid flashing your pearly whites. This can involve closed-mouthed smiles, repressed laughter, or avoiding interactions with other people.

With dentures, you can smile with confidence once more and let go of the stress of hiding your teeth. Dentures now seem incredibly natural thanks to technological and fabrication advancements. When you have a fresh set of dentures, you will smile, laugh, and speak without being self-conscious about how you appear to everyone else.

  • Ensure You get to Eat the Foods You Want To

Your ability to eat certain foods is severely restricted if you're missing all or some of your teeth. Among the most significant advantages of dentures would be that you can resume eating normally. You can enjoy the foods you like without experiencing discomfort or irritation if your dentures fit properly.

What You Can Expect When Getting Dentures

Although The Whittier Dentist can personalize dentures to suit a patient's teeth properly, there are also a few important considerations that patients should be aware of before having dentures. Thankfully, breakthroughs in dental technologies make this procedure easier and smoother than before.

The Denture Procedure

Dentures come in different forms, including implant dentures as well as removable dentures. A more conventional option is removable dentures, which must be taken off by the patient before sleeping. Implant dentures aren't detachable since they are anchored directly to a patient's jaw. Dentists do not recommend implant dentures except if the patient is in good health and has no more functional teeth.

In determining the most effective form of dentures for you, we will complete a detailed evaluation of your teeth as well as your current status of dental health. After that, we will go on to the next steps in the procedure of receiving dentures. The steps of this procedure are listed below.

An Oral Evaluation

The initial phase for our dental team is to inspect your teeth and assess your dental health. Your dentist will look for any indications of illness, tooth decay, past oral work that could interfere with the placement of dentures, as well as any more teeth that would need to be extracted before the dentures are placed during this evaluation.

Making the Dentures

Following your consultation, your dentist will record measurements as well as a model of your teeth to guarantee that your dentures perfectly fit the natural teeth. Your dentist will then transfer these findings to an oral lab, which will create the dentures following your dentist's instructions.

Fitting the Dentures

After the dentures are ready, we will invite you in for a fitting to make sure that your dentures fit properly. We'll make sure that you can wear the dentures without experiencing any discomfort. We will then make any required changes to the dentures, if necessary during this session.

Getting Used to Dentures

There won't be any pain, but getting used to wearing dentures could take a bit of time. Although it could take some getting used to speaking and eating, you will soon have similar function and flexibility as you would with natural teeth.

What are the Different Types of Materials Available to Make Dentures?

Several of the most common forms of denture materials available today are included below.

Porcelain

Because it is sturdy and long-lasting, porcelain is a common material for dentures. Patients who are experiencing missing teeth today are opting for dentures that look natural, which is possible when they are made of porcelain. Additionally, porcelain has resistance to wear and tear, supports normal jaw motions, and needs patients who choose to have this material to visit their dentist regularly to guarantee a snug fit.

Acrylic Resin

The National Institute of Health reports that acrylic resin is now the most popular choice for dentures. When modifications are required, this kind of material makes them easier and is typically very pleasant to wear. When contrasted to alternative denture materials such as porcelain, acrylic resin does tend to deteriorate more quickly. Because of this, patients who choose this kind of material must update their dentures once every 5 years or so.

Partial Metal

A partial metal foundation can be used to create dentures. Denture users should be aware that partial metal tends to make their dentures slightly smaller. This small size is generally preferred since it is easier to receive any necessary modifications. This type of denture uses high-quality resin to closely complement any existing teeth, thus making it a preferred option for those who need partial dentures.

How Dentures are Made

The fabrication of dentures involves four basic steps, including:

Taking Measurements

Your dentist will take a dental imprint of a patient's mouth as the initial stage in creating dentures. This imprint will be utilized to make a plaster model of the mouth so that a denture that is the right size and form may be fabricated. Your dentist could take several measurements of the jaws along with the dental impression.

Modeling

The second stage is to make models out of false teeth and the plaster model. The plaster model then will be put inside an articulator, a machine that represents the jaw. Next, wax is used to secure several fax teeth. This wax is subsequently carved into the gum line, then the model is tested for fit. To find the optimum fit, a few models might have to be tested. The actual denture will be made using the model that fits the patient the best.

Final Fabrication

The ultimate denture will be made in this step using the dental supplies you along with your dentist decided upon. Plaster is then poured over the wax replica to preserve the shape of the denture before the wax is removed.

The plaster is thereafter treated using a substance that inhibits acrylic from adhering to it before being infused where the model was. Ultimately, the plaster is lifted, displaying the denture. Residual acrylic and plaster will be eliminated before refining the last denture.

Adjustments

The completed denture will then be modified as needed after it has been fitted and positioned inside the mouth.

As you've seen, there are numerous denture material choices and a complex fabrication procedure to guarantee the most ideal fit. The dental components, as well as the fabrication method, are critical in creating a visually attractive and functioning denture that helps to restore your smile.

Caring For Your Dentures

Dentures are presently fashioned from highly advanced materials that are intended to give you a natural-looking appearance. However, please note that dentures require rigorous maintenance much as your natural teeth do. This calls for routine dental appointments for minor modifications as well as daily brushing.

Dentures must be cleaned of food particles, plaque, as well as other debris. Preserving the condition of your dentures could also assist in maintaining the wellness of any soft tissues inside your mouth. Unclean or improperly fitted dentures can lead to infections as well as irritation.

Do not forget to brush and rinse the dentures following meals and immerse them in a dentist-approved denture solution at night. This also enables the gums to relax as you sleep. Below are some quick tips for maintaining the quality of your dentures:

There are several different ways that people can clean their dentures.

  • Some users use slightly abrasive toothpaste or water and soap. It is also possible to use common denture pastes or creams
  • Steer clear of utilizing highly abrasive substances or denture pastes or forcefully brushing using toothbrushes that have rough bristles. These can damage or even fracture your dentures.
  • Handle your dentures carefully to prevent loosening your tooth
  • Wash your dentures using tepid or cool water inside a sink filled with water. Dentures could warp in hot water. A small towel put on the floor of the bowl will protect the denture when it drops
  • Soak the dentures in a commercially available solution overnight, such as Polident or Efferdent, and don't forget to rinse them before putting them back inside your mouth
  • Do not forget to brush your gum tissues and your natural teeth using a different toothbrush. You can wipe your gums with a soft cloth instead of using a toothbrush
  • With time, even routine maintenance on your dentures could necessitate having a dentist professionally clean them. A strong ultrasonic cleaner can be employed to eliminate hard deposits of tartar or other substances

Issues Related to Specialty Dentures

Dentures have evolved significantly over the last decades. Modern dentures are lighter, have a more natural appearance, and are a preferred remedy to tooth loss among dental patients. Nevertheless, despite technological advancements, wearing dentures could be a headache because of the challenges and nuisances they are prone to cause. Below are 5 typical issues related to using dentures:

Dentures That Do Not Fit

Dentures that do not fit right are arguably the most frequent issue faced by denture users. Your gums, as well as jaw, go through natural adjustments over time that might make dentures move and become unfit. For this reason, dentures can irritate the gums and cause swelling and discomfort that is extremely uncomfortable.

Eating Difficulties

Eating all the meals you used to love can be challenging with dentures. People who wear dentures need to watch what they consume as well as how they chew. Using the front teeth to bite might make dentures uncomfortable and cause them to fall out. Challenges and the potential for denture slippage might also result from eating hard foods.

Issues with Speech

Simple tasks like speaking could be challenging when wearing dentures, especially in the beginning. You could find that you need to talk more slowly and that some words are challenging to say. Normal speech could also be affected by an increase in the production of saliva.

Infections

Some oral infections can be brought on by improper maintenance and poorly fitting dentures. Stomatitis and c cheilitis are some of the most widespread infections seen by people who wear dentures, and both of these conditions can be brought on by the growth of yeast. Stomatitis is distinguished by lumps or redness on the inside of the mouth. Cheilitis, on the other hand, could cause severe inflammation as well as cracking at the corners of the lips.

Regular Refitting

The requirement for regular refitting and modifications is perhaps the largest inconvenience of using dentures. Dentures may need to be adjusted a minimum of once a year, if not much more regularly, to guarantee a perfect fit. Additionally, as was already noted, a full denture replacement may be necessary due to natural modifications in the gums and jaw. Constant refitting necessitates a significant investment of time as well as money.

Frequently Asked Questions

Below are frequently asked questions regarding dentures:

How Do New Dentures Feel?

New dentures might feel strange or uncomfortable for several weeks till the muscles of your cheeks, as well as tongue, adapt to holding them in position and you become comfortable with removing and inserting them. When you initially start using dentures, it's common for slight irritation or discomfort to happen, as well as for drool to increase, but these issues will go away as your mouth becomes used to them.

Do I Need to Use Denture Adhesive?

A denture adhesive could be taken into consideration given the following scenarios:

  • To increase satisfaction with a well-made denture. Adhesives boost bite power, sturdiness, retention, as well as a patient's feeling of safety
  • To help those who have dry mouth disorders that make it harder for them to wear their dentures, such as people who are taking cold medicines, patients who have neurological conditions like strokes, as well as seniors
  • To offer additional security and stability for people who use their facial muscles in unique ways, like public speakers and performers.

Are Dentures Worn Round-the-Clock?

You'll receive instructions from your prosthodontist or dentist on how much time you can wear the dentures as well as when to take them off. You could be required to wear the dentures continuously for the first few days after getting them, even when you sleep. Even though it could feel unpleasant at first, this is the easiest technique to pinpoint the denture's major trouble spots.

After corrections are made, you should take off your dentures before retiring for the night. This enables the dental tissues to relax while the saliva and tongue continue to stimulate and cleanse the mouth. The dentures can be placed back inside the mouth once you have woken up.

Will Wearing Dentures Affect My Speech?

You may find it challenging to pronounce some words after having dentures. If this happens, practice pronouncing the challenging words aloud. You will get used to speaking clearly with your dentures on with practice and time.

Get in touch with your dentist if the dentures make a clicking sound while you are speaking. Occasionally, your dentures could fall out when you smile, laugh, or cough. Biting down and then swallowing carefully will help you realign your dentures. Visit your prosthodontist or dentist if any speech issue continues.

Will Wearing Dentures Change My Appearance?

Since dentures are created to closely mimic your actual teeth, there shouldn't be much of a visual difference. Dentures can even help with your smile and also make facial features look fuller.

Will it Be Hard to Eat With New Dentures?

Eating using new dentures might require some patience and could be painful for some users for several weeks. Begin with softer foods that have been chopped up into little pieces to get accustomed to your new denture. Use both ends of your mouth to chew slowly. Add more meals as you grow adjusted to your new dentures till you resume a regular diet. Be careful when eating hot or solid foods as well as anything with sharp edges or shells. Additionally, stay away from excessively tough or sticky foods. Also, you should refrain from eating gum while wearing dentures. Furthermore, avoid using toothpicks when wearing dentures.

Find a Dental Professional Near Me

At The Whittier Dentist, we believe that everybody ought to love their smile, and we would like you to keep smiling and live boldly every day. When you visit our practice in Whittier, CA, our highly qualified dental technicians will customize your dentures onsite using cutting-edge technology, methods, and materials that have been refined over many years.

We only use materials that have received ADA approval to create dentures for our patients. Our dentists and the rest of the professional team are dedicated to giving you high-quality care that is administered with courtesy and compassion. Call us today at 562-632-1223 to schedule an appointment.