In this month’s first blog, we talked about some of the basics of dentures and how there are many more people out there who have dentures or are missing all or most of their teeth than you would ever expect.
But there’s no reason you should be one of them. Let’s get into more information about fixing your smile with dentures at Implant Dentistry of Florida.
What are the types of dentures?
- Full dentures — These replace a full set of upper or lower teeth or both. With full dentures, any remaining damaged teeth are pulled. Full dentures sit atop the gums and are a combination of a base that resembles gum tissue and artificial teeth anchored into that base. Full dentures are removed every night for cleaning and to allow the gums to rest.
- Partial dentures — Partial dentures are only possible if the patient has some existing healthy teeth. These teeth can serve as anchors for a denture that replaces a series of missing teeth. Partial dentures can be fixed, anchored to crowns on the adjacent teeth; or they can be removable, attached to adjacent teeth with metal framework that allows the denture to be removed.
- Implanted-supported dentures — These dentures are anchored in place by a series of dental implants on one or both jaws. The dentures then snap onto the implants to create the most solid foundation. Implant-supported dentures don’t slip and don’t require any adhesives. As our name would imply, at Implant Dentistry we’re big fans of implant-supported dentures.
What is the process for getting dentures?
The process starts with the removal of any overly damaged teeth, and the subsequent time to let the gums heal. To give you the ability to chew food in the interim, we create a set of “immediate” dentures at this point. These dentures will act as temporary stand-in dentures while we go about the process of creating and fitting your permanent dentures.
Once your gums have healed, this is the process for getting dentures at Implant Dentistry of Florida:
- We take full impressions of your mouth and gums. Dr. Brown also takes a series of measurements that detail the upper and lower jaws and the space between them.
- From those impressions we create what we call demo dentures out of either wax or plastic. These are made to the precise shape and position of what will be your permanent dentures. But we use these demo dentures to test the color, fit, thickness, shape, and function.
- Once Dr. Brown and you agree that the fit is good, we make another set of final impressions of your gums and mouth. We send these to the dental lab, along with the demo dentures, for the creation of your permanent dentures.
- When they are finished you return to our Melbourne office and we test your new dentures. Dr. Brown makes adjustments in the office, and then we send you home for a few days to see how you like the fit. From there, we will continue to adjust the fit until you are completely satisfied with the final feel of your new teeth.
How long from the time my remaining teeth are pulled until I am wearing my dentures?
Getting a new set of dentures from Dr. Brown isn’t an instant thing. Particularly with full dentures, getting the right fit is a back-and-forth process that will take from two to three months. Expect the process to take several appointments.
Are you missing all or most of your teeth? You don’t need to live that way. Call Dr. Brown and our team at Implant Dentistry of Florida, (321) 372-7700, and set up a consultation for dentures.