Dentures & Partial Dentures

Dentures & Partial Dentures A denture is a removable dental appliance replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to closely resemble your natural teeth and may even enhance your smile.

There are two types of dentures - complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all of the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain. A Partial denture not only fills in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from shifting.

A Complete denture may be either “conventional” or “immediate.” A conventional type is made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has healed, usually taking 4 to 6 weeks. During this time the patient will go without teeth. Immediate dentures are made in advance and immediately placed after the teeth are removed, thus preventing the patient from having to be without teeth during the healing process. Once the tissues shrink and heal, adjustments will have to be made.

Dentures are very durable appliances and will last many years, but may have to be remade, repaired, or readjusted due to normal wear.

Soft Dentures and Flexible Dentures

When it comes to dentures the most common source of agony is a bad fit. It’s something that’s hard to avoid since your gums are between a rock and a hard place. The rock is your jawbone, and that hard place is the hard acrylic liner that holds the prosthetic teeth. While some people can wear dentures without a single complaint, most denture wearers feel some discomfort while chewing foods. Even slight shifts back and forth can translate into serious gum problems over time. Reasons for discomfort and denture misfit are related to the ever-changing conditions in the mouth. As you age, gum tissue shrinks along with the jawbone. Hard dentures don’t adjust to new shapes and hence most long-time denture wearers end up using some form of adhesive to increase stability while wearing their dentures. There’s now a new wave of soft dentures, or flexible dentures, that promise to eliminate the problems associated with hard acrylic liners. They require no adhesives, will adjust to irregularities in your mouth, and stay in place even under harsh chewing conditions. The secret to these soft dentures is the undercut of the gum ridge. Flexible dentures hook into these undercuts to provide the stability needed to eat tough foods like apples and even hard nuts. A flexible denture is really just a traditional denture with a flexible resin coating as the last inner coating. It’s the flexible resin that locks into your undercuts and acts as a buffer between your gums and the hard base. More flexibility can be added by constructing the entire denture out of this flexible material. These flexible resins are more expensive but also longer-lasting than your traditional soft liner. However, the material used happens to be non-porous so that no bacteria can build up within it. Even though it’s non-porous it can retain a small percentage of water to help interface with adjacent tissues. Another advantage to a soft denture is that the trial fitting can be used as part of the final denture, meaning that the overall production time of a soft denture is shorter than that of a hard acrylic denture.If you’re tired of the pains of wearing a hard denture, consider talking to your dentist about the possibility of a completely soft and flexible denture. Though it is not for every patient, it’s worth looking into because the results can often make a world of a difference

What does getting dentures involve?

The process of getting dentures requires several appointments, usually over several weeks. Highly accurate impressions (molds) and measurements are taken and used to create your custom denture. Several “try-in” appointments may be necessary to ensure proper shape, color, and fit. At the final appointment, your dentist will precisely adjust and place the completed denture, ensuring a natural and comfortable fit.

For a Complimentary, no-obligation consultation, call our office today at 973 366-6662, or click here to request information online.

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Dentures are very durable appliances and will last many years, but may have to be remade, repaired, or readjusted due to normal wear.

Reasons for dentures:

Complete Denture - Loss of all teeth in an arch
Partial Denture - Loss of several teeth in an arch
Enhancing smile and facial tissues
Improving chewing, speech, and digestion

What does getting dentures involve?

It is normal to experience increased saliva flow, some soreness, and possible speech and chewing difficulty, however this will subside as your muscles and tissues get used to the new dentures.

You will be given care instructions for your new dentures. Proper cleaning of your new dental appliance, good oral hygiene, and regular dental visits will aid in the life of your new dentures.

For a free, no-obligation consultation, call our office today at 973 366-6662, or click here to request information online.

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Request Appointment | Easy Financing | Guarantee | Location