Complete Dentures
Complete dentures restore chewing function and facial appearance for patients who have lost all of their teeth in one or both jaws.
Overview
A dental prosthesis is the physical replacement of lost teeth, gum, alveolar bone and surrounding tissue. What is missing may be a single tooth or part of one, or a large section of the jaw. The dental speciality that researches and provides jaw and tooth prostheses is called prosthodontics.
Complete dentures are made for people who have lost the ability to chew because they have no natural teeth. Alongside restoring chewing, they give a good appearance. Learning to use a denture takes a little time; stay with it and keep a positive frame of mind, and before long you will find you are wearing it comfortably.
What the first days are like
A new denture feels foreign and bulky at first, and your lips and cheeks may feel full. The lower denture moves more, and getting used to it is harder and takes longer than the upper. You may produce more saliva in the first few days; this passes. Within a few weeks, as the tissues adapt to the denture, these problems settle by themselves.
However carefully a denture is made, there may be sore spots. It is a mistake to adjust these yourself; do come to the appointments your dentist arranges for the adjustments. So the sore spots can be seen, you need to have worn your denture for at least eight hours before the appointment.
Eating and speaking
When starting out, choose soft food; cut it into small pieces and chew slowly using the back teeth on both sides of the jaw. Never bite with the front teeth in the first weeks — it lifts the back of the denture away from the tissue. Eating normally with complete dentures takes at least six to eight weeks, and chewing force is a third to a sixth of that of natural teeth.
Speech takes a little getting used to as well; reading aloud and repeating words that come out wrong speeds it up. If the denture shifts when you laugh or cough, gently bite together and swallow to settle it back into place.
Wearing, cleaning and check-ups
Once you are used to it, take the denture out at night to rest the tissues; keep it in a glass of water, out of reach of children. After every meal, brush every part of it with a denture brush, without pressing hard; toothpaste or an effervescent cleaning tablet can be used. Never use bleach or similar substances, and never put a denture in hot water.
The tissue under a denture changes over time, so a dental examination at least once a year is necessary. A denture lasts four to five years.
What a complete denture gives back
- Chewing is restored, and chewing well matters a great deal for digestion.
- It corrects the collapse of cheeks and lips for a younger appearance.
- The artificial teeth look thoroughly natural and healthy.
- With proper care and regular check-ups it serves for four to five years.
Ready to start?
Book a consultation and we'll walk you through it, gently, and with no pressure.