Dentures are false teeth or ‘plates’, made mostly of plastic, that replace missing or lost teeth. Both temporary or permanent dentures are a solution of last resort. Although dentures may look like your natural teeth, they are only 30-50% as effective as natural teeth for eating.
The good news is that dentures aren’t what they used to be. Newer materials and technology have allowed great improvements. Now dentists can fashion dentures that fit comfortably, appear natural and help you stay healthier.
FAQ’s about DENTURES
NEW TO DENTURES?
ALREADY HAVE DENTURES?
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DENTURES?
WHAT IS A CONVENTIONAL DENTURE?
WHAT IS A COMPLETE DENTURE?
WHAT IS AN IMMEDIATE DENTURE?
WHAT IS AN OVERDENTURE?
WHAT IS A PARTIAL DENTURE?
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARTIAL DENTURES?
WHAT ARE IMPLANT DENTURES?
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF IMPLANT DENTURES?
WHAT ARE MINI-IMPLANT DENTURES?
WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF A NEW DENTURE?
WHAT IS THE UNIQUE MONEY BACK GUARANTEE?
Q: NEW TO DENTURES?
A: Considering Dentures? Having trouble eating? Are you ashamed of how your teeth look? The choice to remove all of your teeth and have dentures made is a huge and often very difficult decision to make. You have probably seen people that clearly have embarrassing and unaesthetic dentures. Well made dentures fit well and look good. If you are thinking about getting dentures, you want to make sure your dentures are done right. They are not like your natural teeth, at best they are about one third to one half as effective in chewing as natural teeth. Learning to chew food and talk again will take patience and practice. You might have to cut your food into smaller pieces than you did when you had your natural teeth. Food will always get under any appliance. You will have to learn how to use and adjust to your dentures. For some people, this can take up to several months. We have never failed to help a patient adjust to their new dentures if they continue to work with us to solve the problems that do occur. Yearly checkups are advised to catch problems early. Because your mouth continues to change, and bone only disappears, it is advisable to reline any appliance at least every three years. Dr. Davis has years of experience and the latest techniques to reduce the fear and uncertainty often associated with denture implant services. These include oral conscious sedation, non-lingering Novocain, and the new affordable mini-implants that guarantee secure, successful dentures in a simple, painless procedure. Dr. Davis and his staff specialize in working with people like you so that your dentures fit right. Call for a free consultation to learn how Dr. Davis can help you get your smile back!
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Q: ALREADY HAVE DENTURES?
A: Are you unable to eat what you want? Are they too loose? Are you embarrassed to go out in public? Are you plagued with constant sore spots? Do you have trouble talking? Does your fear of smiling keep you from socializing or dining out with friends and family? Problems such as clicking, slipping, frequent gum irritation and odor may be signs that your dentures don’t fit well, need to be adjusted, relined, or remade. Mini-implants are a reliable and affordable solution to restore your quality of life by securing your dentures so that you feel confident when you smile.
Q: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF DENTURES?
A: Dentures can be either complete or partial. Complete dentures are made for people who have lost all of their teeth. Partial dentures are used when it is necessary to replace some but not all teeth. A partial denture usually has a metal framework with metal clasps and is attached to nearby teeth. There are also immediate dentures when teeth are extracted and also various Implant Dentures.
Q: WHAT IS A CONVENTIONAL DENTURE?
A: If all of the teeth have been previously removed, the denture base is composed of acrylic, and the teeth are acrylic or porcelain, it is considered a Conventional Denture.
Q: WHAT IS A COMPLETE DENTURE?
A: A complete denture is made when there are no teeth left in the arch. If you are having a complete denture made, it is likely that you have previously had a denture.
Q: WHAT IS AN IMMEDIATE DENTURE?
A: If teeth are removed when the denture is inserted, it is considered an Immediate Denture. This is a most difficult and challenging procedure. It is transitioning from having teeth to your first set of complete dentures. It is made more difficult the more teeth that must be removed to place the new denture.
Many people believe that they will have to be without teeth for a period of time, this is not true. An Immediate Denture is placed over the open sockets where teeth have been removed the same day. This difficult step is often very challenging and close cooperation with the dentist is essential. Sore spots will have to be adjusted, they do not go away.
Another challenge of Immediate Dentures is that there is no way to “try in” the new dentures and see what they are going to look like. There are teeth in the way! This is why an Immediate Denture is often considered a TEMPORARY OR TREATMENT DENTURE. It may be followed in 6 months to a year with a permanent Conventional Denture. If this is necessary to do, it increases the cost of treatment substantially. Our office makes every effort to minimize this possibility but if it is necessary, the final conventional denture is made at a reduced cost.
Immediate Dentures will get loose as the bone and gum heal and shrink under the denture. This is very annoying and is treated with ’tissue conditioning’ using soft temporary material several times to keep the dentures fitting better until it is time to reline or remake the Immediate Denture at 6-12 months. The charge for the “tissue conditioning” and the reline are not part of the cost of the Immediate Denture. Adjustments for sore spots are included for 6 months.
Q: WHAT IS AN OVERDENTURE?
A: This is a Complete Denture that sets on the roots of some remaining teeth. An Overdenture can be most helpful for the lower jaw. However, it is an option for almost anyone who has a few teeth remaining. Teeth that will be preserved with an Overdenture must meet certain standards of health. Canines and premolars are the most common teeth selected because of their root length and position in the jaw. A root canal is necessary, and often the teeth are covered by a metal casting to keep them from decaying. The roots supply support for chewing and help retain the denture in place.
Q: WHAT IS A PARTIAL DENTURE?
A: Partial Dentures replace some but not all of the teeth. The remaining teeth are used to support and retain the Partial Denture. This is usually accomplished with a metal framework with clasps. Teeth are set on the framework and a minimum of metal is exposed. The design of the Partial Denture includes transferring the chewing forces in a healthy way to the remaining teeth without wiggling them loose, consideration of adequate retention, esthetics, food getting trapped, and gum disease. It is not usually possible to make a Partial Denture that does not collect some food. After eating, remove the Partial Denture and clean your mouth of food.
Q: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PARTIAL DENTURES?
A: Nylon Partial Denture — This is often a low cost alternative to a metal framework Partial Denture. Though it does not have any metal clasps, and is therefore more esthetic, it encourages bacteria buildup and promotes loss of teeth from the increased gum disease. It also does not transfer the chewing forces to the remaining teeth, but rather is able to contribute to teeth getting loose. We do not provide this service for these reasons.
Flipper Partial Denture — A ‘flipper’ is made of acrylic and is intended to be temporary. It replaces one or more teeth for a few weeks until another form of treatment (bridge, implants) can be completed. Such a denture can be placed right away, or soon after a tooth is extracted. However, it is not meant to be a permanent solution.
Q: WHAT ARE IMPLANT DENTURES?
A: Implants have become successful for many applications. They are Titanium alloy fixtures that are placed into the bone and integrate (attach) to the jaw bone. Implants were originally developed to replace missing teeth, but have also been successful in Complete Dentures and Partial Dentures. They can provide two functions. They can be large enough and strong enough to withstand chewing forces, and they are also used to retain dentures in place offering a high degree of confidence that is not always possible with Conventional Dentures.
Q: WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF IMPLANT DENTURES?
A: These are 4 to 6 mm, about the size of a pencil or pen. They are placed in the jaw and after they are integrated into the bone, can feel like your own teeth. It is possible to place enough of these implants in some people that they can “have all of their teeth back”. This is what you hear so much about in advertising. This is a very expensive treatment that costs tens of thousands of dollars and is possible if there is adequate bone. We do not do this kind of implant, but if this is your desire, we work with one of California’s best implant dentist.
Q: WHAT ARE MINI-IMPLANT DENTURES?
A: These are less than half the size of conventional implants and are not large enough to use for chewing, they are used only to retain and secure a denture. So many people have had difficulty with their loose lower denture that they are often referred to as “floaters”. When four mini-implants are placed in the lower jaw, it is a short appointment and the dentures are sent out to the lab and in the afternoon the dentures are ready to be used with confidence. They stay in place. It is such an amazing transformation that we have kept the cost down so that it is affordable to everyone. See information on Mini-Implants.
Q: WHAT IS THE PROCESS OF A NEW DENTURE?
A: The first appointment will be to complete an examination and take impressions. This is followed in a week by an appointment to take recordings of your bite. A week later, you will be able to look at and approve the esthetics and bite. If how you look is important to someone, such as your spouse, bring them to this appointment. If you have pictures of your natural teeth and would like your new teeth to look similar, bring pictures of you showing your natural teeth. The important consideration is the color and arrangement of the teeth for proper function and esthetics. This step may take more than one appointment. The next step is to insert and adjust your dentures and follow up the next day to minimize sore spots. From start to delivery usually takes between 5 and 8 weeks. The amount of saliva and anatomy of your mouth will determine the amount of retention your dentures will have. The lower denture will never have the suction of the upper because of anatomy. See above about Overdentures, Implant Dentures, and Mini-Implant Dentures.
Q: WHAT IS THE UNIQUE MONEY BACK GUARANTEE?
A: If you are not completely satisfied with your temporary or permanent dentures, you may return them within six months of delivery and receive your money back, less the lab fees (about one third of the cost of the dentures).