Dentures/Partial Dentures

A denture is a removable dental appliance created to replace the spaces for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. Dentures, when used, are an important part of keeping the teeth and mouth in frame when one or more teeth are missing.

There are two types of dentures – complete and partial. Complete dentures are for patients who are missing all of their teeth, while partial dentures will only fill the spaces for missing teeth. When missing any teeth, partial dentures play an important role in preventing other teeth from shifting position in the mouth.

Typically, our patients receive dentures for the following reasons:

• Complete loss of all teeth in an arch.
• Partial loss of teeth in an arch.
• Enhancing smile and facial tissues.
• Improving chewing, speech and digestion.

The dentures received are strong and durable. On occasion, dentures may need to be remade, repaired or readjusted due to regular wear and tear.

Procedure

The procedure requires several visits to the practice that are scheduled over the course of several weeks. Within these scheduled visits, accurate molds will be taken to provide custom-made dentures. Preliminary fitting appointments may be necessary to provide optimum outcome in the shaping, color and fitting of the denture. At the final appointment, the dentures will be ready to be precisely adjusted and placed by the dentist to provide a natural and comfortable fit.

Please provide adjustment time for your muscles and tissues to become familiar to the new dentures. During this temporary adjustment period, it is normal to experience an increase of saliva flow, soreness and possible speech and chewing difficulty. Keep in mind this is normal and, in time, your mouth will be fully healed and adjusted.

Additional instructions regarding the care and maintenance of your dentures will be given by Dr. Uzpurvis or Dr. Booth. Proper cleaning and hygiene will assist the longevity of the life of your dentures.