Dentures
Dentures in Houston, TX restore your smile and chewing power after you have lost one or more natural teeth to dental disease or facial trauma. After meeting with Dr. Patton for a consultation, you will have a better idea of whether this tooth replacement option is right for you. Keep in mind that dentures are removable, and you must soak them overnight in a cup filled with water and a special cleansing tablet.
Full and Partial Dentures Explained
Restore Dental at Montrose offers two types of dentures. The first is full dentures, which replace the entire row of top and bottom teeth. If you have all your teeth extracted, you need to wait approximately two to three months to allow your gum tissue to heal. Dr. Patton provides you with a set of temporary dentures in the meantime.
Immediate full dentures may be available in some situations. As the name indicates, you receive these types of dentures the same day you have the last of your teeth extracted. Since gums and bones in the mouth shrink over time, patients who receive immediate full dentures typically require more appointments and fittings than those who receive traditional full dentures. Many patients wear the immediate dentures to avoid going without teeth while their gums and jaws heal and then replace them with standard dentures.
Partial dentures in Houston, TX are appropriate when you still have some or most of your natural teeth remaining. Dr. Patton attaches artificial teeth to a retainer with a gum or pink-colored base. When you place the retainer in your mouth, the replacement teeth line up with the gap in your smile left by the missing teeth.
The Process of Creating New Dentures
You should expect to attend several appointments at Restore Dental at Montrose before you receive your customized dentures. During your first appointment, Dr. Patton takes several impressions of your jaw and measures the space between your jaws to ensure that our laboratory creates dentures that will fit. Additional steps include:
- Your dentist creates a mold from the impressions in the precise position and shape of the dentures our laboratory will create for you. You then put the dental mold in your mouth for a few minutes while Dr. Patton checks the shape and fit.
- Dr. Patton sends the mold to our laboratory where the technicians cast the final shape of your dentures.
When your customized dentures are ready, someone from our office staff will contact you to come in for a fitting. Please don’t feel discouraged if you must return for a few fittings until your dentures feel just right as this is normal.
Adjusting to Life with Dentures
Wearing dentures will not feel natural for the first several days or even weeks. Your tongue and the muscles in your cheeks must get used to the feel of dentures and learn to keep them securely in place. You may experience minor irritations that develop into sores or increased saliva production at first, but these issues will disappear once your mouth has gotten used to the dentures.
You should also expect an adjustment period when it comes to eating while wearing dentures. We recommend cutting your food into small bites and starting with soft foods for the first several days. Your speech may sound unusual to you at first, but this too requires an adjustment period.
Please contact our dental practice to request a consultation when you’re ready to learn more about this popular tooth replacement option.