Dentures are false teeth complete with gums made out of acrylic-resin and designed to seamlessly replace removed or lost teeth. Available in various different forms from partial to full sets, dentures offer a less expensive alternative to dental implants for patients of all ages.
The restorative dentistry experts at Franklin Dental Care in Fort McMurray would be happy to discuss the denture services offered at our family-friendly clinic.
How dentures are made
Starting with an in-depth dental exam to determine your specific needs are adequately met, your restorative dentist will work with you to create a plan to get your smile back. Once the plan is confirmed, you will be scheduled for any required appointments to perform any extractions and clean up any teeth that will be left in your mouth.
Following cleaning and extraction, your dentist will provide you with a set of temporary dentures to wear over the next 6-8 weeks while the tissue in your mouth heals and all swelling dissipates prior to beginning your mold. Once your mouth is completely healed, you will be asked to return to see your dentist to have an initial impression of your mouth taken.
To create the initial impression, a seaweed-based powder, known as “alginate”, is mixed with water until the mixture reaches a putty-like consistency. Once the proper consistency is achieved, the alginate is poured into a u-shaped stock tray designed to follow the general curve of your teeth. The tray is then placed firmly against your upper and lower teeth for 2 or 3 minutes while the alginate sets into a firm, rubbery material. These initial impressions will be used to cast plaster models called “primary models”.
Primary models are used to create “special trays”, a much more customized tray similar to the stock tray used for the initial impressions, to get the most accurate impression possible ensuring the best fit for your new teeth. Think of this as the difference between an off-the-rack suit vs. a tailored one.
A dental technician will use this secondary impression to cast working models to build your dentures from. Once wax registration blocks have been fitted to your mouth and adjusted by your dentist, the technician will get to work adding pre-made acrylic teeth into the blocks ensuring balanced occlusion is maintained to prevent the teeth from tipping during talking and chewing. After a final try on and any last minute adjustments are made, a final mold is created using plaster of paris. The technique used to create this mold ensures the acrylic teeth already placed in the soft wax model stay in the plaster. Once cured, the wax is removed and replaced with pink acrylic-resin creating a rough final product. After some grinding to smooth edges and ensure the proper height is maintained, the dentures are cleaned, polished and returned to your dentist for final fitting.
Stay put! How to keep your new dentures in your mouth
Once you’ve gone through the fitting process and received your new dentures, you may find it difficult to keep them in your mouth. Here are a couple things you can do to help keep your dentures from falling out while you get used to wearing them.
- Less is more! - It only takes a little bit of force to knock your dentures loose and cause them to fall from your gums; to help prevent this from happening speak less and slowly. The less your mouth moves, the less likely your dentures are to be knocked out of place.
- Stick it to me - Denture adhesives come in a few different forms including liquids, creams and powders, however they all work the same way. When applied, saliva mixes with the adhesiv, puffing up the denture to create a strong link between your gums and the dentures to keep them in place. Speak with your restorative dentistry professional to find out which adhesive will work best with your custom dentures.
How to maintain your dentures
Denture maintenance should be included in your daily dental hygiene routine. Proper daily cleaning ensures the longevity of your dentures by preventing loosening and changes in shape.
Avoid using a regular toothbrush and paste to clean your dentures as these can damage the structure. Instead, an extra soft specialized toothbrush should be used. Once brushed, store your dentures in warm water overnight. Products such as Polident can be added while soaking for an extra deep clean or to remove stubborn stains from the acrylic teeth.
Contact us today at (780) 790-0088 to book an appointment, discuss insurance coverage, and how to best fit restorative dental services into your budget and lifestyle.
