What are dentures?
Dentures are apparatus that are tailored to replace a person’s missing teeth to restore the lost oral functions and facial appearance. Dentures can either be full or partial. As you can already assume, full dentures are used in case of a total loss of teeth while a partial denture is needed when a patient loses some of their teeth.
When you lose a significant number of teeth, you’ll experience some major difficulties. You’ll have problems chewing most foods and especially foods rich in fiber. Having lesser teeth also alters your voice to some extent and you may also face difficulty while speaking.
Types of dentures
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures in Ottawa are made of pink-colored plastic to replicate the color of our gum tissue. The product supports up to 32 plastic or porcelain teeth and is held in the mouth by establishing a seal with the gum. You can also use dental implants to surgically fix the denture in the jaw bone. Although, the treatment is costlier than a traditional complete denture.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are either made with a plastic base or a metal frame that is customized to the patient’s needs. Patients hold these dentures with the help of clasps or rests that are adjusted around the natural teeth. The metal frame dentures were the choice of traditional designs because of the strength of the metal. Whereas, partial dentures are mostly used as temporal replacements of missing teeth to allow the gums and bone to heal. Therefore, partial dentures serve as a temporary solution until a permanent restorative solution is obtained. Recently, flexible materials such as Valplast are being used as a durable alternative to traditional materials.
How are dentures made in Ottawa?
After a tooth is uprooted or lost, the cavity starts to fill in with bone and the gum tissue heals therefore changing the shape of the area. It takes a few months for the gums and the bone to reach a stable form. After around 8 to 12 weeks after the extraction or loss of teeth, a conventional full denture is put together.
To start making a denture, a series of impressions or frameworks of the patient’s oral tissues are taken. After that, the dental lab will make models of the patient’s mouth using these impressions. Based on the models, the dentist will construct the actual denture and set it to the patient’s mouth. While placing the denture, the dentist must ensure that it fits properly. The patient should check if they are able to establish a proper bite and the appearance and aesthetics are appropriate. To keep any complications in check, the patient should have an appointment with the dentist per week for around one month or until the completion of the procedure.
Role of an immediate denture
To fill the void when the teeth are extracted, the patient wears an immediate or temporary denture. So, the immediate denture need to be constructed even before the teeth are extracted. To not make it bothersome, the back teeth are extracted leaving the front teeth until the day the denture is available. It doesn’t fit in the patient’s mouth as perfectly as a conventional denture, so it needs more adjustments during the healing stage. Therefore, the immediate denture serves as a temporal apparatus during the healing process and until the permanent denture is made.
Does denture affect the way a person feels, eats, looks, and speaks?
Dentures in Ottawa are able to restore or even improve a person’s oral functions and appearance and are mostly undetectable. However, it may take you some time to find the best way to place and take out the apparatus. The gums are most likely to be a little sore in some places, so you should visit your dentist periodically during the first few weeks to adjust the denture to eliminate any irritation.
You have just been affixed with an alien object in your mouth, so you’ll need some practice to chew food properly and equally on both sides of your mouth. So start with soft foods before heading on to solid substances. Avoid chewy or sticky foods so that the denture doesn’t come out.
The teeth play a vital role in the tone of your voice and pronunciation. So, with new artificial teeth, you need some practice to speak perfectly. Sudden and prompt movements like laughing or yawning may dismantle the denture. If this continues and becomes a troublesome issue for you, the denture needs to be reset. At first, you may also witness an increased production of saliva because your mouth perceives it as a foreign item. But as you get used to it, it will reduce back to normal.
