Denture Information
Preparing for Dentures
Before and during the denture procedure
A patient that needs a dental appliance must come to realise that they need to have an initial consultation and assessment by a dental specialist. The consultation that is carried out by the dental specialist, delves into the patients medical and dental history, as well as, a complete dental examination. Also, the initial consultation may include X-rays and impressions of the patient’s mouth to determine the situation and dimensions needed to pursue a successful denture. With all the above information, the dental specialist and the patients are then able to discuss further choices and alternatives.
Within the first few visits to your dental specialist, it will be made aware to the patient that the natural teeth that are still existing in the patients mouth may need to be extracted, due to poor decay or other influential reasons. However, dental specialist will always do whatever is necessary to save as many natural teeth as possible, due to the battle of natural teeth versus artificial teeth, which, in all cases, natural teeth achieves the best performance. Also, having some natural teeth remaining will facilitate the use of over-dentures or partial denture, which are believed to be, firmly positioned in the mouth compared to complete dentures.
In reference to the time it takes for your denture or dentures to be complete, depends highly on the type of denture being hand crafted for your situation and circumstance. For instance, complete dentures take a longer period of time, if extractions have occurred. This is because once the gums have under gone the stress and pressure from the removal, the gums must be given the time to heal and repair. Once the gums have recovered, impressions are then taken. From the dental specialist, these very important and needed impressions are taken to the dental laboratory, where the dental appliance will be hand crafted.
The dental appliance is usually returned to the dental specialist unfinished. An imminent appointment will allow for the dental specialist to place the artificial teeth on the denture foundation with wax for the next fitting. This assists the patient and the dental specialist to over view the colour, shape and the appropriate fit of the denture for a flourishing result. A number of patients may have to endure several trial fittings before the greatest fitting and occlusion bite is accomplished. Subsequent to the trials, the teeth can be permanently secured onto the foundation of the denture once the perfect fit and occlusion bit is successful.
However, if an immediate denture has been chosen for the patients needs, impressions are carried out before the teeth are extracted, so that the denture can be positioned within the same appointment as the extraction.
On the other hand, a partial denture typically needs to be prepared with the neighbouring abutment teeth.
In regards to an overdenture, a dentist will reshape the teeth that will support and fit the denture perfectly.
After the denture procedure
Now that your denture is complete, it is necessary for the patient to strictly follow the instructions giving to them by their dental specialist. It is essential and very common that the patient will attend several future appointment in the first few weeks or even months of receiving their denture. These future appointments are carried out to ensure an accurate fitting and to check for any irritation.
The majority of the patient demographic needs a period of time to adjust and feel confident with their new dentures. It is believed that once the patient’s facial muscles and tongue learns to help lock the denture/s securely, they will start to feel comfortable in the mouth than feeling loose and movable. A time when dentures may loosen is generally when the patient sneezes, yawns, laughs or coughs, however, the dentures can normally be resecured by lightly biting down and swallowing.
The feeling of bulkiness and embarrassment is usually what a patient feels like at the beginning of their new denture life. Fortunately, patients will gradually get used to the bazaar feeling of their dental appliance. Also, patients may endure some uneasiness and irritation initially and may realise that the existence of the dental appliance in the mouth may cause more salivation; again, this will all improve and recuperate over time.
Patients should be aware that once they have entered the beginning of the denture life, patients might possibly need to make various alterations with their eating habits. These alterations may include for soft foods to be cut up into small pieces, which will allow the patient to eat with ease. Also, these alterations will include, for the patient to stay away from tough foods, such as, crunchy fruit, uncooked vegetables, and most of all, tough meat. However, the good news is, that all patients will return back to their normal eating routines, as the patient will adapt to their dental appliances.
Apart of the after denture procedure, patients may realise that they are unable to make particular noises and sounds, vocally. Patients who do find speaking difficult after the denture has been positioned, should most definitely practice their specking skills. The approach to this minor and fixable problem is to, speak quietly, slowly and fluently, which will allow the patient to gradually get their tongue around the specific words. Other practice exercises are, slowly repeat difficult words that bring trouble to the patient, read aloud, and sound out words slowly. With these exercises taken on board by the patient, they will also help to keep dentures from clicking and clacking whilst speaking, and within time, the patient will no longer have the embarrassing problem apparent.
Dental examinations and check-up appointments should be an on going routine for the patient. Dental specialists are most likely to suggest how frequently the patient should come in for an assessment. Check-up appointments are necessary as natural changes occur within the mouth and the jaw with age. Also, appointments are generally set to evaluate the patient’s state, for any recent problems or irritations that may have been brought to the their attention. Also, dental examinations a vital because it allows the dental specialist to continually provide the patients with a perpetual and proper fit of their dental appliance. Dental specialists who may find any fixable problems can adjust the dental appliance in their dental laboratory within that appointment. However, in some situations, a dental appliance may not be repaired, due to an old denture and/or the cause of nature, which, in that case, a new denture in necessary.
Relining and rebasing are the two main types of alterations known to the dental industry that dental appliances are likely to require over a period of time.
Relining
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The most common alteration.
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Either soft or hard relining material can be used.
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On average, takes around 30 minutes to an hour in the dental laboratory.
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Firstly, the relining material of acrylic resin is secured onto the dental appliance once two or three millimetres of the denture foundation has been removed.
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When the relining material of acrylic resin is placed against the gum, it is still very soft, which allows for the acrylic resin to take shape of the patients gum before it hardens.
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Soft relining material may be for temporary use, due to the patient’s condition, which may involve inflamed gums. Therefore, the dental specialist must use soft relining material to allow for the gums to heal.
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Once the gums have healed the dental specialist may replace the soft relining material with a hard relining material.
Rebasing
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Not so common compared to relining alteration.
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Firstly, an impression is taken of the patient’s gums, where the impressions and dental appliances are taken to the dental laboratory.
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Here, the denture foundation is entirely replaced.
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It is evident that the patient will be without their dental appliances, however, only for a short period of time, which would be about a day.
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