Denture FAQ's

If you wear partial dentures or have any remaining natural teeth or roots it is important to have regular dental check ups by your dentist. It is also important to maintain good oral hygiene and not wear your denture at night, unless specifically advised otherwise (such as immediately following an extraction).

Even if you have no remaining natural teeth it is still important to have regular dental health check ups. This allows us to monitor the fit and wear of your dentures; it also allows us to check the health of your mouth and surrounding structures.

We also offer a professional cleaning service, which uses a special machine and process to remove the difficult stains and deposits that build up over time, no matter how well you clean your dentures at home. The process takes less than an hour and can literally be done whilst you wait. Something simple that can make your dentures appear almost as new!

Here are some other tips:

• When using proprietary cleaning agents at home always follow the manufacturers instructions
• Never clean or remove your dentures over an empty sink as the surface is very hard if you drop them
• If you notice any small cracks develop in your denture visit the practice as soon as is practicable
• Take special care with dentures that have metal parts as these parts can bend, meaning that your denture will no longer fit
• If your dentures become loose, painful or offer any concern then contact us immediately

Yes, there are different types of denture:

Full dentures (sometimes called complete dentures) are for people that have no remaining natural teeth in the jaw where the denture is to be fitted. They are usually made entirely of plastic but can sometimes be strengthened with a metal insert.

Partial dentures are for people that have one or more remaining natural tooth in the jaw where the denture is to be fitted. They can be made entirely of plastic or a combination of plastic and metal.

If your dentures are loose you should visit a Dentist or Clinical Dental Technician.

When natural teeth are lost the bone beneath your gums will shrink and change shape. This happens quickly in the months following the extraction of teeth and then slows, but it is a process that continues through life and can be accelerated by other factors such as illness.

If your dentures are relatively new (less than five years old) it may be possible to reline them. A reline is when a new layer of plastic is added to the surface of the denture that contacts the gums to improve the fit.

Sometimes a soft silicone reline material is used to line dentures if your gums are sensitive or tender. This can help by providing a cushioning effect and is called a Soft Lining. This can be incorporated as a part of a new denture or added as a reline at a later date. Because of their structure soft linings are not as durable as hard denture plastic, this means that they need to be replaced periodically. This replacement does involve a cost and should be taken into account when opting for a soft linining.

If your dentures are five years old or more it may be worth considering a new set. This is because just as the gums shrink, the surfaces of the artificial teeth will also wear over time. In combination this can effect how your teeth meet together making them less stable.

It is also worth considering dental implants, which can provide secure retention by allowing your denture to clip into place. This can help to improve your choice of foods and confidence when you go out for meals.

It is not possible to guarantee that your dentures will never break, no matter how well constructed they are. However if your dentures do break in most cases they can be repaired, we will endeavor to do so as quickly and as conveniently as possible for you.

We will also investigate why they have broken in order to try and help to avoid similar episodes in the future.

Yes, it’s perhaps easiest to think of the denture as having a number of parts:

The Artificial Teeth (the tooth coloured part of your denture) the teeth vary in quality according to how many coloured layers they are made from and the quality of the plastic. This determines how natural they will look and how they will wear.

• Basic quality teeth use two layers of Acrylic
• Three and four layer Acrylic teeth offer a more natural look and are more resistant to wear
• Nano Filled Composite teeth use a special kind of plastic that is very hard and natural looking
• Porcelain teeth were used in the past but are rarely used these days

The Denture Base this is the pink part of your denture that simulates your gums. There are a number of materials available including:

• Standard Quality Acrylic
• High Impact Acrylic which is much stronger
• Flexible Nylon may also sometimes used to make flexible partial dentures

If you show a lot of gum when you smile the pink material can be specially toned and tinted to provide a more natural appearance.

Sometimes the denture base can include a metal framework that connects everything together, almost like the chassis of a car. This framework is usually made from an alloy called Cobalt Chromium.

Dentures are truly bespoke items with many options, this can seem complex and one size certainly doesn’t fit all! Which is why Adrian always seeks to explain the process without ‘jargon’ and in terms that you can understand.

If you’re interested to find out more we will be pleased to discuss the various options in a relaxed and friendly manner.