Denturists are dedicated to helping their patients find the right solutions for their denture care needs. Some may offer a complimentary initial consultation. The importance of a thorough consultation and examination with your Denturist is essential. This consultation gives you the chance to discuss your concerns and the treatment options available to you. Along with an examination, it also allows your Denturist the opportunity to assess your oral condition and address your needs and expectations.
Fabrication – Types of Dentures
As a primary oral health-care provider, a Denturist can provide
various types of quality dentures specific to your needs.
Well-crafted dentures can restore your smile and allow you to have improved function and quality without compromising comfort. Proper digestion and nutrition are critical to your general health. When you are unable to chew your food effectively because of missing natural teeth, or excessively worn dentures, you should see your Denturist for a consultation.
Complete Standard Dentures
Partial Standard Dentures
Precision Dentures
Immediate Dentures
Implant Supported Dentures
Relines and Repairs
Over time your mouth and dentures undergo inevitable changes. Dentures should be replaced every five to seven years to restore optimum fit, function and appearance. In the meantime, if your dentures require a repair or relining, your Denturist can best advise you of the most suitable treatment plan.
Your Denturist can often offer quick turnaround times for relines and repairs to minimize the amount of time you are without your dentures.
Relines
Relining consists of adding new base (pink) material to the tissue side of a denture to ensure a snug fit. Your Denturist will need to take an intra-oral impression inside your existing denture to complete the reline. Relining affects only the fit of your denture and will not change the appearance or address any wear of the denture teeth; they are required when tissue changes occur due to resorption (shrinkage) which can be due to:
- loss of weight
- loss of teeth
- loss of bone/tissue
- disease or illness
Repairs
Never attempt to repair or alter your dentures yourself. Improperly repaired dentures will not last long, may cause irritation due to the poor fit and can have an adverse effect on your overall health. Repairs may be required when breakage or damage occurs, when one or more teeth need to be added to an existing denture (due to tooth extraction), or because of wear and tear. Often denture teeth and clasps can be added to existing partial dentures when natural teeth are lost.
A proper repair requires addition of new denture base (pink) material to the repair area and may require an intra-oral impression by the Denturist prior to repair. Most repairs can be done in one day. If your denture requires a repair, it may indicate underlying problems associated with the age of the denture, worn teeth or poor fit. Your Denturist is the professional who can repair a broken denture and best explain how to prevent further denture breakage from occurring.
Denture Soft Liners
Soft Liners are used to increase chewing comfort in new or existing dentures. Soft Liners are bonded to the surface of dentures and rest on the oral tissues. The Soft Liner acts as a shock absorber between the hard plastic denture base and the sensitive oral tissues covering the jaw ridges. If you are suffering with denture sore spots, speak to your Denturist about how a Soft Liner may help you.
Is a Soft Liner right for you?
Permanent soft liners provide comfort and relief for individuals with:
- Chronic soreness
- Severely flattened ridges that do not tolerate the chewing pressure comfortably
- Ridges with prominent or sharp bony areas
Advantages of Soft Liners
- Greater comfort; many denture wearers report that they can chew food more comfortably
- Patients experience a reduced number of sore spots
- A proven technology, soft liners have been available for over 40 years, and during that time the
materials and technology have steadily improved
Soft Liner Considerations
Special consideration in the use of proper cleansers and proper homecare must be given to Soft Liners. Like all dentures, soft lined dentures require regular follow-up visits with a Denturist to examine the fit of the dentures, the health of the oral tissues and to professionally clean dentures (if recommended).
Teeth Whitening
Teeth Whitening is a simple and effective process that lightens the shade of enamel and dentin of natural teeth. With the use of a custom-made whitening tray and the latest in natural teeth whitening technology, you can have whiter, brighter teeth. The whitening process uses a peroxide-based gel retained in a custom-fitted appliance that is worn over your natural teeth.
Individual results may vary. Speak with your Denturist for guidelines on proper usage of whitening material and the number of applications required for best results. Teeth will always be lighter than they were. However, some patients may need periodic re-whitening, every four to six months. Avoiding staining substances (tobacco, coffee, tea, colas, red wine, etc.) will help maintain whitening results longer. Several days after teeth undergo the initial whitening process they may ‘rebound’ a shade darker.
What causes tooth discolouration?
There are several causes of tooth discolouration, the most common being aging and staining substances (coffee, tea, colas, tobacco, red wine).
Who can benefit from Teeth Whitening?
Almost everyone with natural teeth! However, there are cases where treatment may not be effective. Your Denturist will determine if you are a suitable candidate following a thorough examination. Tooth Whitening is ideal for people who have healthy, unrestored teeth and would like to have a whiter, brighter smile. It will not whiten dentures, crown and bridge, composite restorations or natural teeth darkened by trauma, tetracycline or nerve degeneration.
The whitening process is most effective on mildly discoloured teeth. Darker stains take longer to respond or do not respond to whitening treatments. The degree of whiteness will vary from person to person, depending on the structure of the teeth and how long the whitening material is used.
Athletic Mouthguards
When it comes to sports equipment, mouthguards are essential. They are made of soft plastic and are closely adapted to fit comfortably over your natural teeth. Athletic mouthguards protect your teeth, lips, cheeks and tongue.
When should a mouthguard be worn?
A mouthguard should be worn whenever your sport has a risk of falls or head contact with equipment or other players. Football, boxing, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding and gymnastics are some of the sports and activities where mouthguards are indicated.
Will all athletic mouthguards offer the same protection?
A professionally fitted mouthguard will offer the best protection for people of all ages, including those with primary (baby) teeth, as well as secondary (adult) teeth.
Do what you can to protect your smile and preserve your health; ensure you have a properly-fitted mouthguard made by a professional. Play to win – protect your grin!
Check-Ups and Maintenance
It is critical to maintain your dentures to ensure maximum comfort, chewing efficiency and appearance. An annual checkup is an opportunity to identify problems and possibly save you money and trouble in the future. An annual ongoing care appointment is important to ensure the following possible concerns are examined by your Denturist:
Oral Tissue and Jaw Bone
Over time, your mouth undergoes inevitable changes. Shrinkage (atrophy) of the underlying jaw bone on which your dentures rest is inevitable. The soft gum tissue that covers the jaw bone will also change over time. Your denture’s fitting surfaces do not change over time and your dentures may not fit as they once did.
Oral Cavity
Having an annual oral exam may help prevent or detect the existence of oral cancer or other abnormal conditions.
Medical and Dental History
Updating both your medical and dental history is an important step towards quality overall treatment, as changes may directly affect the fit of your dentures.
Annual Visit
What to expect during your annual visit:
- Updating of your dental and medical history
- Intra-oral examination to check for any abnormalities or changes in your oral tissues
- Checking the integrity of your dentures for chips, cracks and worn, loose or missing teeth
- Checking the esthetics, stability and bite
- Discussing options available to you based on your needs
- Reviewing of oral hygiene procedures and denture care
- Cleaning and polishing of your dentures, if required