Denture Repair

Every once in a while a denture may need a repair. Sometimes it is the tooth that falls out; sometimes the denture falls on a hard surface and breaks the plate or chips the tooth; sometimes the family pet gets a hold of the denture, accidentally left on the night stand, and thinks it is a chew toy... (In some cases the damage done by pets can not be repaired and the new denture has to be made. This would be an expense that could be easily avoided by keeping the denture away from pets)

Another situation is when the patient is wearing a partial denture and one or more of the natural teeth have to be extracted. Usually the artificial tooth can be added to the existing partial denture. The process of adding an artificial tooth to the existing denture is easier in the acrylic partial dentures, but also possible in the metal frame partials.

In one case or another denture repairs are sometimes needed. Most can be done the same day, but in some complex cases they may take longer.

How to Clean the Denture

1. The best way to clean the denture is over the sink. A denture can break when dropped on a hard surface, so always fill the sink with water.

2. Rinse your denture thoroughly to remove loose food particles. Use cool or warm water. Never use hot water, as it can warp your dentures.

3. Use a soft bristled denture brush or soft bristled toothbrush. Apply mild soap to a brush. Do not use ordinary toothpaste, bleach or vinegar. Toothpaste is an abrasive and will create micro scratches on the surface of the denture that will attract the bacteria; using harsh chemical solutions will cause porosity on the surface of the denture which will also attract the bacteria.

4. Brush all surfaces thoroughly. Try not to brush the inner surface of your denture too hard. A light brushing is sufficient. Remember that tartar or calculus can form on the denture just as on natural teeth, so it is very important to clean your denture daily.

5. After brushing, rinse your denture well under the running water to remove all traces of soap.

6. Brush your gums, tongue and palate with a soft-bristled regular toothbrush to remove plaque and stimulate circulation. Repeat that at least twice a day (morning and night). Rinsing your denture after every meal is highly recommended.

7. Always remove your denture for the night. Your gum tissue needs time to relax and rejuvenate. While you sleep at night, soak your denture in a container filled with water.

8. Keep your dentures away from children and pets. Cats and dogs are attracted to dentures left exposed around the house. At least 1% of dentures need repairs due to the damage done by pets. Sometimes the excess of the damage is so big, that the repair can not be done and the new denture has to be made. The expense can be easily avoided.

Immediate Denture

Immediate Denture is a removable dental prosthesis or a dental appliance, custom made for the patient who is planning to remove (extract) one, two or more teeth. Sometimes patient and his/her provider decide to extract all of the patient's teeth due to condition of the teeth or other health problems. Since an option of living without any teeth for 2 months or so is not the one preferred by most people (while waiting for the gums to heal), an immediate denture is a great alternative.

Immediate denture is made before the teeth are removed, and is inserted within 30 minutes after the extractions of the teeth. The denture works as a band-aid, controls the swelling and helps the healing of the gums.

The process of making an immediate denture includes longer after care than in case of the regular denture; after the extractions the gums are healing and shrinking, and there are many changes that happen with the tissues in the patient’s mouth. As the gums are shrinking, the denture becomes looser and requires first a temporary soft reline and later a permanent reline.

Types of Dentures

The term “denture” is commonly used to describe the removable dental prosthesis. The main purpose of the dental prosthesis is to assist in chewing, speaking and to restore the cosmetic aspects of patient’s appearance. There are several types of dentures, depending on the need of the patient. Generally they can be categorized as follows:

1. Full or Complete Denture,
2. Immediate Denture,
3. Partial Denture:
- acrylic partial,
- metal frame partial,
- flexible partial.

Many years ago the porcelain teeth were used as a standard material for the artificial teeth for dentures. As porcelain is a very hard material, porcelain teeth were very hard on the gums and bones in the patient’s mouth, making them vulnerable to accelerated deterioration. Today, acrylic resin is used to produce highest quality artificial teeth that absorb the shocks generated during the chewing much better than the porcelain teeth; therefore, they are much easier on the gums and jaw bones of the patient. Acrylic teeth are also more “quiet” as they don’t “click” as loud as porcelain teeth during chewing and speaking. In the next few posts I will present in more detail the information about different types of dentures and the process of making them.

Welcome to my Denture Info blog!

I'm Alex Garland, second generation dental technician and a denturist. I use this blog to post some information about dentures that you may find interesting or useful. Almost everyone knows someone who wears dentures. Some denture wearers can casually talk about their dentures - some don't feel comfortable to do that. The information posted here will hopefully answer some of the most common questions about dentures. At the same time I welcome any questions pertaining to dentures.

For the information about our NEW SMILE DENTURE CLINIC please visit http://www.newsmiledenture.com/ .

In our clinic, all our dentures are made by us in our own lab. In our practice we incorporate the skills and the knowledge of making dentures that come together to over 40 years of experience. We are also working directly and together with the patient to assure that all personalized denture design details are taken under consideration, and that the final product functions and looks the best it can. A best made denture sitting on the table is just a piece of acrylic resin, but in the patient’s mouth it becomes a new smile, new confidence and attitude, it becomes a mean to a better nutrition and health; in short - it improves the quality of life of the patient. It’s a great pleasure to be a part of that process. Let us be Your denture provider!

~Alex