Dentures in Canberra
Dentures are prosthetic devices used to replace one or more missing teeth. Whether you’ve lost teeth due to decay, injury, or age, dentures are a practical solution to help you regain the ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence.
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are removable appliances that fit snuggly in your mouth to replace missing teeth. They are custom made to fit your mouth and to resemble the appearance of natural teeth and gums. They are typically made from acrylic material or a combination of a metal framework and acrylic. Dentures can replace a single tooth or up to all missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
Benefits of Dentures
The benefits of dentures include:
- Improved aesthetics – replace gaps in your smile, increase support of facial muscles and prevent sagging that can occur from missing teeth.
- Improved function – restore the ability to chew, especially in areas where more than one tooth is missing or where back teeth have been lost.
- Protect remaining teeth – replacing missing teeth can help to reduce forces on remaining teeth that occur when chewing.
- Conservative – require little to no preparation and have minimal risk of damage to natural teeth.
- Easy maintenance – dentures are removable and therefore can be easily cleaned and taken care of.
- Affordable – dentures can offer a more affordable and time-efficient alternative compared to fixed solutions like implants or bridges.
Types of Dentures
Full Dentures
Full dentures replace all missing teeth on the upper or lower jaw. These might be recommended when you have lost all teeth or have few remaining teeth that may be compromised.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures replace one or more missing teeth and attach to your natural teeth for support.
Implant-Supported Dentures
These are full dentures that are clipped into the mouth by attaching to implants. They are still removable. These can offer a more stable and comfortable solution where traditional dentures would lack support – particularly in the lower jaw.
The Denture Process
After consultation and x-rays, your dentist will discuss which option may suit you best. You will then undergo impressions – these can be done physically or digitally. We work closely with our lab throughout the fabrication process. You may require 3-4 appointments for follow-up impressions and trialling of the denture teeth.
Once your denture is fitted, you may require some additional follow-up appointments for adjustments to make sure it is comfortable.
Dentures FAQs
Are dentures comfortable?
Over the first few days after receiving your denture, you may experience some of the following:
- The denture may feel tight or uncomfortable and, in some cases, bulky as if it is crowding the mouth
- Your gums may feel sore
- An increase of saliva production in the mouth
- Your speech may be affected, i.e. a lisp while talking with the denture in.
All the above will improve after a short time of wearing the denture or can be adjusted by your dentist. While dentures may take some time to get used to, but with proper wear and good maintenance, they can be very comfortable and last for many years.
How do I care for my dentures?
Dentures should be cleaned daily with water and a toothbrush, and there are specific tablets that can be used for disinfection a few times a week. You should remove your denture at night-time to prevent infections in your mouth and allow the gums and tissues to breathe.
Can I eat normally with dentures?
Learning to eat with dentures takes practice and time. You may want to start with softer foods or cutting food into smaller pieces to help with chewing. As you gain confidence with your dentures, you can start to incorporate a wider range of foods back into your diet.
For more information or to make an appointment contact us today, or book your appointment online.
