Dentures are removable dental prosthesis designed to replace missing teeth.
They help to restore function, improve appearance and support the facial structure.
Types of dentures:
- Full dentures: Replacing all the teeth, top or bottom or both.
- Partial dentures: Replacing a few missing teeth, usually anchored with metal or acrylic clasps on natural teeth.
Most medical insurances insists on a pre-authorization, where the procedure codes from the dentist as well as the laboratory codes are included.
Full Dentures:
- It is made of a pink acrylic resin.
- It is usually 4 to 5 visits, with 5 working days inbetween each other to give the dental technician time to do the work.
- First appointment is 2 impressions, one on the top, and one on the bottom with universal impression trays. Teeth colour is determine as well.
- Next appointment is impressions again using the special trays that the technician made from the previous visits impressions. This gives a better impression with material that gives finer detail. We also do a wax bite with bite blocs that the technician made to determine the patient’s bite with the correct bite space and lip support.
- This appointment is the longest, and can take up to 45 minutes.
- The third appointment is the fit in. The teeth is fitted in wax so that we can see whether the bite is correct, do the patient like the teeth, colour and shape. This is the last appointment where alterations can be made, because the teeth is set in wax. If the bite is not right, and can’t be changed in the chair, it will be sent back to the laboratory to do the corrections. This is where another appointment will come in to do a fit again.
- Last appointment is the fit of the dentures, set in acrylic.
Full dentures can also fit on implants, which is a fantastic tight fit if dentures is too loose with a lot of bone loss and less retention.
Immediate dentures:
Immediate dentures is where the dentist remove teeth, that was discussed that is not saveable, on the last appointment, and place the dentures immediately. This is a difficult procedure for patients, because the dental technician guess how the area would look like once the teeth is removed. Bone also resorbs, and can take up to 12 months to settle, with dentures getting loose.
We reline the dentures until the bone and tissue is stable to give a more comfortable fit. After a year we made a new set, because the acrylic part will get very thick with the relining, which is also uncomfortable for the patient.
Partial dentures:
We make partial dentures where a patient loses a tooth or teeth due to an accident, periodontal disease or tooth decay and abscess.
There are 2 types of partial dentures:
1. Acrylic partial dentures
We use pink acrylic material, the fit is not so good as the Crome cobalt metal partial denture.
If it is an immediate partial denture we suggest using the acrylic material due to the fact that the bone and soft tissue needs to settle, which can take up to 12 months.
Acrylic denture is also not that expensive as the metal partial denture.
Acrylic partial dentures are a very good replacement to replace teeth, it’s cost effective as well, while saving for a bridge or an implant later. It is also used as a temporary replacement while busy with implant placement, which can take up to 12 months for the final placement of the implant crown.
2. Metal partial denture
Chrome cobalt metal dentures It is a stronger, better fit denture, especially on the mandible (bottom)
It doesn’t cover the full palate like acrylic dentures, which make it taste better, and you can feel temperatures a lot better.
The cost is higher, but definitely worth it.
Cleaning of dentures:
The best way of cleaning your dentures is by brushing it morning and night with your toothpaste and toothbrush. Always keep dentures in a little bit of water if you are not wearing them. If you need to clean it better, brush it with sunlight liquid, just make sure you rinse it properly afterwards. Be careful not to drop your dentures in the basin, as it can easily break.
And remember, your pets are always willing to wear your dentures…
