Dentures are removable dental appliances that are used to replace multiple missing teeth. They are an affordable tooth replacement option and are made to closely resemble your natural teeth. At Alphington Dental Care we offer complete and partial dentures to meet your specific needs and requirements

Dentures are a conservative tooth replacement option because they involve little or no preparation or adjustment of the surrounding natural teeth. There are advantages and disadvantages to wearing dentures. Whether they work for you will depend on individual factors such as structure of the jaws and your expectations and lifestyle.

Dentures may be immediate or conventional. For those who have teeth requiring removal, immediate dentures can be made in advance and placed in the mouth immediately after the teeth are removed. This is preferable for patients who do not want to be without teeth while their dentures are being made. However, after tooth extraction the gums shrink back so these dentures will eventually become loose and will either require re-lining or replacement.

Conventional dentures are made after the teeth are removed and placed only after the gum tissues have healed. Healing typically takes 6-8 weeks, during which time you may have to be without teeth.

Partial dentures

Partial dentures are suitable when there are still some healthy natural teeth present. Only the existing missing teeth are replaced and the remaining teeth help to hold the dentures in place. Partial dentures help to prevents the other teeth from shifting and drifting into the empty spaces.

Partial dentures are like removable bridges. They have a metal or plastic framework with denture teeth attached to fit around the existing teeth. Partial dentures are a great choice when there are multiple missing teeth but the rest of the teeth and gums are otherwise healthy. They are an alternative to implants for those who want a non-surgical and affordable option for tooth replacement.

Complete dentures

Complete dentures consist of a full arch of teeth that can replace both the upper and lower teeth completely. The upper denture will cover the roof of the mouth or the palate. This allows the denture to be held firmly in place because the denture is designed to have a suction effect. The lower denture will fit over the gum ridge, and is shaped like a horseshoe to allow space for the tongue.

How are dentures prepared?

Firstly, we conduct a dental examination and assess the health of your existing teeth and gums. During this time, we discuss whether dentures are an appropriate solution for you and if there are any other options that fit your needs and budget.

If you decide to go ahead with dentures we take an impression of your teeth and gums to custom create the dentures for a perfect fit. We may take more than one impression so we can get the most accurate fit for your mouth. We also take a measurement of how the top and bottom jaws fit together so that you can eat and talk comfortably. Using the impressions and measurements the dental lab with create either the partial or complete dentures as required. There is a try in stage where you get to check you are happy with the fit and appearance of the teeth before we proceed to finalising the denture.

Will the dentures stay in place?

A lot of patients worry about whether or not they will be able to hold dentures in place. At Alphington dental Care, we custom-fit your dentures to fit your mouth, jaw and gums. Since it is a snug fit to all the contours of your mouth, you don’t have to worry about it slipping or coming loose. Of course, it will take time to adjust to wearing dentures, but after that initial period the muscles in your mouth will get used to the dentures. Most patients adapt over time and are able to wear dentures comfortably during eating and talking.

If you have some missing teeth and would like to talk about tooth replacement, come in for a consultation with us and we can assess whether you are a good candidate for dentures. Our dental team will be happy to answer any questions you may have so that you can decide the best treatment for you.