Dentures and Partial Dentures in Valencia, CA

Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth and help restore your smile, and the American Dental Association says they make it easier to eat and speak than you could without teeth.

When you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, and dentures can help fill out the appearance of your face and profile. Dental technicians make them from materials such as acrylic, resin, nylon, metal and porcelain. The main types are full dentures, partial dentures and dentures attached to dental implants. Many traditional denture wearers find their dentures shift or slip when speaking or chewing, and the jawbone gradually shrinks after tooth loss.

The difference between complete and partial dentures is how many teeth they replace: Cleveland Clinic explains that a complete denture replaces an entire arch of missing teeth, while partial dentures are an option when you are missing several or most of your teeth.

A complete denture rests on your gums and relies on the roof of your mouth or your lower jawbone ridge for support, and you may need denture adhesive to keep it in place. A partial denture also rests on your gums and bone, but it has clasps that hook around your remaining natural teeth for extra stability. When only one to three teeth are missing in a row, a dental bridge may be the alternative.

The difference between immediate and conventional dentures is when they are placed: the American Dental Association says a conventional denture is placed after the remaining teeth are removed and the tissues have healed, which may take several months, while an immediate denture is inserted on the day the remaining teeth are removed.

For an immediate denture, your dentist takes measurements and makes models of your jaw at an earlier visit. You do not have to be without teeth while you heal, but the denture may need to be relined or remade once your jaw has healed. In some cases an immediate denture is temporary and is replaced with your final denture after healing.

Dentures can be attached to dental implants, and Cleveland Clinic describes two kinds: implant-retained dentures, which snap onto implants and are still removable, and implant-supported dentures, which are fixed and only your dentist can remove.

Implant-retained dentures typically offer more stability than traditional dentures, and you do not need denture glue to hold them. A fixed denture needs more thorough daily cleaning, including flossing underneath it. An overdenture can also fit over a small number of your remaining natural teeth after they are prepared, which can help preserve your jawbone. Read more about dental implants and All-on-4.

Getting dentures takes several office visits, and Cleveland Clinic says it usually takes several visits to achieve the fit you want because the soft tissues in your mouth need time to adjust.

The steps are:

Getting used to new dentures takes a few weeks, according to the American Dental Association, and they may feel loose while the muscles of your cheeks and tongue learn to keep them in place. Cleveland Clinic says it can take weeks or sometimes months.

Minor irritation or soreness is not unusual, and saliva flow may increase for a while. These problems should go away as your mouth gets used to the dentures. Follow-up visits are generally needed so the fit can be checked and adjusted, and you may need several adjustments in the first couple of weeks. If irritation or soreness continues, contact your dentist.

Dentures last seven to 10 years on average with proper care, according to Cleveland Clinic, and most people need replacement dentures at that point. A reline every one to two years, or whenever the fit changes, adds material to the denture for a more comfortable fit.

Make a dental appointment if your dentures:

To take care of dentures, brush them every day to remove food and plaque, and the American Dental Association says to rinse them first and use a soft brush with a non-abrasive cleanser so they do not get scratched.

Every morning before you put them in, brush your gums, tongue and the roof of your mouth with a soft-bristled brush. When you are not wearing your dentures, keep them covered in water so they do not warp. If you use an adhesive, follow its instructions exactly. Take your dentures out for at least eight hours a day, which gives your gums a break and reduces harmful bacteria, and keep your regular dental checkups.

Smile Care Valencia offers complete dentures, partial dentures, immediate dentures, implant overdentures, denture relines and denture repairs at our office at 23838 Valencia Blvd., Suite 301, serving Valencia and the Santa Clarita Valley.

If teeth need to come out before your denture, read about tooth extraction.