Dentures are a popular option for tooth replacement. These removable appliances, made from metal or plastic frameworks, contain one or more artificial teeth. At Thousand Smiles, we customise dentures to perfectly match the size and shape of your mouth, ensuring they look and feel natural.
During your consultation at Thousand Smiles, our dental professional will evaluate your dental health and guide you on whether dentures are the appropriate solution for you. For personalised and expert denture solutions in London, Thousand Smiles is the dental practice you can trust.
Depending on the number of missing teeth, you can get a partial or full denture. You may also get a temporary partial denture while waiting for a bridge.
A full denture has a removable acrylic plate or base that sits over the gum. It has a set of acrylic teeth that will look like natural teeth and replace the lost teeth.
A partial denture has teeth attached on both sides of the gap, and it can replace one or a few missing teeth. You can use a partial denture as an alternative to a dental bridge to fill gaps in your mouth. It has a base plate made of metal or plastic. The partial dentures with metal are lighter and stronger but cost more.
Missing teeth can affect your appearance and speech, which may reduce your confidence. Dentures can enhance your smile and improve your life by helping you speak clearly and eat comfortably.
Replacing the missing teeth can preserve your remaining teeth, especially from issues related to your bite and gaps that may cause decay,
Having realistic expectations before you get dentures is important. Dentures are removable and aren’t a permanent solution for fixing missing teeth. Getting used to your dentures may take a while, and you may feel slightly uncomfortable when you start wearing them.
You may have a follow-up appointment one week after the fitting to check if the dentures fit and to make any necessary adjustments. Pronouncing some words may be difficult in the first week or two, but your speech will improve over time. You can try reading out to practice.
Eating with your new dentures may also be uncomfortable for a while, so you should start with soft foods and try chewing with both sides of your mouth at the same time to help keep your dentures in place.
Caring for the dentures is also important, as your dentures may become brittle if you do not maintain them. As you grow older, you may have facial structure changes, meaning you will need adjustments to make your dentures fit properly.
Your dentures should last 5 – 8 years, depending on how you care for them.
Common alternatives to removable dentures are;
Bridges are a type of dental restoration that involves fixing artificial teeth onto your existing natural teeth. They serve as a ‘bridge’ to fill in the gap left by missing teeth. For quality dental bridges in London, consider Thousand Smiles as your preferred dental care provider. We are dedicated to restoring your smile and enhancing your oral health.
They are titanium implants fitted directly into the jawbone with false teeth fitted on top.
The most suitable option for you depends on your number of missing teeth, the position of the missing teeth and the condition of your gums and remaining teeth.
You will discuss your options during your consultation.
Dentures are custom-made for each patient, so the dentist will take your teeth impressions with dental putty to make well-fitting dentures. Your dentist will send your mouth’s precise measurement and impression to the dental technician to make your dentures to ensure they feel and look as natural as possible.
Before fitting your dentures, you may need to remove more teeth. This may be for fitting a full set of dentures because other teeth are severely decayed or loose to save. Your dentist may recommend fitting dentures immediately after your teeth removal or waiting for a few months for your gums to heal for better fitting dentures.
If you fit dentures immediately, you may need to adjust them later to fit properly. Our dentist will help you choose the right option.
The partial dentures usually have clasps that keep the dentures fixed to the adjacent teeth. On the other hand, a full denture covers the palate or roof of the mouth. The thin layer of saliva between your dentures and palate creates a suction that keeps the dentures in place. Your tongue and facial muscles will help keep your dentures in place.
Full dentures on the lower arch are more difficult to keep in place because they have less support from the gums. However, you will learn to balance the dentures between your tongue and cheeks with more practice.
If your dentures slip at first while coughing or laughing, try biting down on them gently and swallowing to put them in their position.
While denture adhesive cream is available, most people don’t need it. Some people find that the fixative helps them feel more confident as they get used to wearing dentures.
Dentures are not permanent teeth-replacement solutions. They are removable, so you need to take them out at night. If your dentures don’t fit properly, your mouth may feel sore. Ensure you visit our dentist if you are concerned about how your dentures feel.
With proper care, your denture can last for several years. The following tips can help keep your mouth and dentures clean.
Ensure you clean your dentures after each meal with a soft toothbrush, toothpaste, or soap. While brushing the dentures, ensure you clean all surfaces, including the sides that will sit on the roof of your mouth and gums.
You can also soak your dentures in a cleaning solution to remove the stain but always brush the dentures again.
Your dentures may break if you drop them, so always clean them over a bowl of water or a soft surface.
Some dentures have a soft lining, so you should ask your dentist if you can use a cleaning solution for your denture. The soft lining is usually delicate and easily damaged by cleaning solutions.
Always put your dentures in a glass of cold water or a plastic box overnight to prevent them from drying.
Brush your remaining teeth two times with fluoride toothpaste and floss to clean between your teeth. Cleaning the roof of your mouth, tongue and gums with a soft brush is important if you wear dentures.
Ensure you remove your dentures at night to allow your mouth to rest. This will also help prevent infections.
Even with no natural teeth, you still need regular dental check-ups. During your check-up, the dentist will check if your dentures fit properly and if any problems affect your soft tissues and gums.
Your dentures can last long with proper care, but if they don’t fit correctly or wear down, they may become uncomfortable and irritating. Ensure you visit our dental dental practice if you experience these issues.
If you need dentures to replace your missing teeth, visit Thousand Smile or call 020 8050 0280 to schedule your consultation with our dentist.
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