Is it possible to have dentures put in the same day as teeth removal?
Yes, it is possible to have your teeth removed and dentures put in the same day. These dentures are called immediate dentures and you should talk to your prosthetist to see if that treatment is the best for you.
I have implants under my bottom denture, but my denture is still loose. Why?
If the implants had been placed a long time ago and you have not returned for follow-up/ maintenance visits, such problems can occur. Unfortunately, in time the bone shrinks beneath dentures causing the dentures to slip and slide resulting in painful ulcers. Additionally, the attachment parts get worn down with use or damaged and require replacement. Regular visits to your prosthetist is recommended.
As a new denture wearer, the bottom denture seems loose. What should I do?
In most cases, the lower denture is much less stable than the upper denture. This is due to the shape of the gums on the lower ridge and movement of the denture caused by the tongue. Ask your prosthetist about supporting your lower denture with dental implants. Implants can be used to stabilize and retain the lower denture allowing you to chew more efficiently and feel the confidence of knowing that your denture will stay in place.
Is it possible to perfectly colour match my partial denture to my remaining natural teeth?
Our Prosthetists is highly trained in the art of colour and shade matching. Assuming it is a new partial denture, we can work to produce a match to your remaining natural teeth. If it is an existing partial denture, we would recommend having a new one made, as the expense would be about the same to recolour the old one.
What do I do if the screws in the denture are loosening?
If you had implants inserted, it sounds like the implants were intended to help stabilize the denture, in which case, they should reduce the movement. If your dentures rub your cheeks or if you’re biting your cheeks, you should return to the dentist or prosthetist who made the dentures to continue to have the fit and bite refined. You should visit your dentist or prosthetist to remedy these difficulties.
What do I do if my dentures feel very heavy and it is difficult to close my mouth?
While it may take time to simply adjust to the new dentures, it is likely that if teeth were removed the same day that the dentures were given to you, then you will need to follow up with your prosthetist to assure that they continue to fit properly as you heal. If you did not have any teeth extracted and simply had new dentures made, there should be fewer adjustments. These adjustments should be more minor in nature. The heavy feeling may be because you have not previously worn dentures or partial dentures. If that is the case, it will take several weeks to completely adapt to the feel of them.
After a very long time of denture wearing, I’m losing gum and bone. Can this be fixed?
Research shows that once the teeth are removed, the jaw bone shrinks and changes shape. Typically, dentures should be checked every year, and often they should be remade when they lose their fit and are loose in your mouth after 5-10 years of use. By using dental adhesive, you may have masked the loose fit of your dentures. Even though you have adapted to these dentures, you are not receiving the function and appearance you deserve. Also, it is important that you take your dentures out at night to allow your gum tissues to rest and decrease the possibility of sore spots.
My dentures will not stay in no matter what kind of adhesive I use. What should I do?
Relines of dentures should improve the fit of the base of the denture to the jaw. However, if your jaw has been without natural teeth for some time, it may be difficult to make the denture stable if there is little jawbone. Soft tissues beneath dentures can also become easily irritated by wearing dentures continually (24 hours a day). You should refrain from wearing dentures at night as this gives the skin a chance to recover from wearing them during the day. Your dentist or prosthetist should make sure that the skin inside the mouth is healthy and take steps to treat it properly before relining. If there is enough jawbone available, relines can often be done well. If not, it may be necessary to revisit the need for either remaking or redesigning the denture.
Is there a way to replace teeth with dentures after losing them from oral cancer?
Call our friendly Prosthetist for a consultation. Some patients have to wait a period of time before dentures can be fitted to avoid these concerns. Details of the cancer treatment are important and may guide the timeline and treatment approach.
Is it possible to get dentures after not having teeth for a long time?
It’s hard to predict how much of the upper and lower jaw will remain after 20 years without teeth. When teeth are removed, often the bone that held them in slowly shrinks over time. This doesn’t happen to everyone, but it’s normal after tooth removal. It’s important that dentures are made properly to fit well and keep minimum stress on the bone. It’s not likely that you’ll have all the bone you started with after 20 years of not wearing a denture. Your dentist or prosthetist should annually examine your mouth to assure ideal oral health, including the bone level that would be below your dentures.
The back of my dentures pop up when eating. What do I do?
Your dentures may be ill-fitting or the position of the implants may not be the most favourable. Usually, this can be resolved by improving the fit of the denture or by adding (more) implants. Your prosthetist can help you with this situation.
After applying adhesive, it’s very difficult to remove dentures. How do I remove them without pain?
If you are using your denture adhesive correctly, there should not be a lot of adhesive left on your gums and palate when you remove your denture. Patients use a variety of methods to remove the adhesive: a piece of gauze, a tissue, a damp washcloth, or a wet toothbrush. Use no more than three or four pea-sized dabs of adhesive on each denture.
Can I claim anything back on my health insurance?
It will depend on your health insurance provider and the level of cover you have.
With most providers, it is only covered as an ‘Extra’ so the best thing to do is to ask for a quote from your dental prosthetist with the treatment plan and item numbers noted and call your health insurance provider. They will then be able to tell you based on the item numbers and type of treatment you require whether you are covered and if so for how much.
