Sunbury
Dentures

If you are missing one or more teeth and are not interested in alternatives like a dental bridge or dental implants, partial dentures may be a good option for you. These dentures use several false teeth that attach to a metal and wire framework which is attached to your remaining healthy teeth. This holds the false teeth in place, filling up the gaps in your smile.

With partial dentures, you can quickly restore your smile after tooth loss, avoid complications like teeth shifting after losing a tooth, and feel confident about your appearance once again.

 The process for fitting both full and partial dentures is very similar. If you are having full dentures, your teeth will be extracted during a previous appointment, and you’ll get a temporary set of dentures to wear while your mouth heals.

Then, you’ll come into Shine Dental to have your dentures fitted. Dr. Katelyn Miller will take dental impressions and bite molds of your mouth to measure your gums and/or remaining teeth. She will record some additional information about your bite and how your teeth fit together.

After this, all of this information will be sent to a dental lab, where a set of test dentures will be made of wax and sent back to Shine Dental. When your test dentures arrive, you’ll come back for an appointment at Shine Dental, and Dr. Miller will test the fit of the dentures.

This process may be repeated several times as the fit of your dentures is perfected, so it could take up to 4-5 appointments over a period of 4-6 weeks at our office.

Once the fit is perfect, Dr. Miller will order your permanent set of dentures, which will be built according to the specifications of your final pair of test dentures. Then, once they arrive at our office, she will give you your new set of teeth, along with a set of instructions on how to wear them and care for them properly.

This mostly depends on how well you care for them, especially when it comes to storing them and cleaning them. Cleaning and caring for your dentures and gums properly will maximize the lifespan of your treatment.

In general, you can expect a set of full-mouth dentures to last between 5-10 years before requiring repairs or replacement. Partial dentures tend to last even longer, often up to 10-15 years.

To avoid denture damage and accidental breakage, it’s really important to keep your dentures moist at all times. If they dry out, they may permanently become warped. Always soak your dentures when they’re outside of your mouth.

You also must avoid dropping them. Dentures are relatively brittle. Dropping them onto the floor or sink could shatter them. Consider putting a towel down around the sink and filling the sink bowl with water when you clean your dentures. This ensures they won’t break if you accidentally drop them.

First, you should brush your gums, natural teeth (if applicable) and dentures after every meal. Routine brushing eliminates food particles that can irritate your gums and your dentures, and contribute to the risk of gum infections.

You also need to remove your dentures every night, and soak them in a denture cleaner. This keeps them fresh, bright, and free of bacteria. Taking your dentures out at night also helps your gums rest. Dentures put a lot of pressure on your gums, so letting them relax after a long day is really important. Failing to remove your dentures at night raises the risk of discomfort, sores, and other complications. 

Finally, you should see Dr. Miller every six months for a checkup. She will check your dentures, your teeth and/or gums, and your oral health to make sure that everything looks good. Don’t skip these checkups. Even if you’ve lost all of your teeth, you need regular dental care to maintain your oral health.

For the most part, the answer is “yes.” There are no “hard and fast” dietary restrictions for dentures. You can eat whatever you want, with only a few caveats. First, it’s usually best to avoid really sticky and gummy foods, and be careful when chewing them. These can loosen your dentures, and the sugar in these foods causes oral bacteria to reproduce quickly. You may want to cut back on things like taffy, gummy candies, and caramel. 

You also may want to cut fibrous, tough, and chewy foods into smaller pieces before you eat them. For example, sliced apples are easier to eat than biting into a whole apple, and small pieces of steak are easier than trying to gnaw on a big chunk of meat. With just a few adjustments and a little practice, though, you can keep eating your favorite foods.

No, or at least they shouldn’t be! If your dentures are painful, this probably means they’re worn out, damaged, or never fit properly in the first place. This is particularly likely if you start to experience sores and abrasions on your gums.

When your dentures fit properly, they won’t cause these “hot spots” on your gums. They will distribute pressure evenly throughout your mouth, and won’t cause you any serious discomfort. If your dentures hurt, this is not normal.

To get to the bottom of things, relieve your pain, and protect your oral health, you should come and see Dr. Miller for a checkup at Shine Dental. She can check the fit of your dentures, discuss your lifestyle, and determine the right steps to take to relieve your pain and discomfort.