Overtime our knowledge has changed on how to care for your dentures. The common mistakes people make with there dentures is that they leave them in overnight, place them in water or clean them with toothpastes. All three of these SHOULD NOT be done anymore. Wearing your dentures overnight is like wearing your dirty shoes to bed, you need to let your mouth breath. By doing so you stop bacteria and fungus growing in your mouth. (Click here to see an illustration) When you take the denture out, don't place it in water as this does not allow the denture to dry. In the past they used to say to place the denture in water to stop shrinkage, materials have improved and no longer need to be placed in water over night. Instead after cleaning the dentures you should place them in a dry container as this prevents fungus and bacteria growth on your denture(s). Denture care is very important in oder to increase the longevity of your dentures. So what should you be cleaning with, you only need to clean with simple hand soap, you do not need toothpaste fr your denture(S). Toothpastes have abrasive particles which can wreck your denture. In addition, you should be doing a deep clean once a week with 2 tbsp white vinegar in 200ml water. For instructions on how to care for your denture(s) following the link below to our simplified guide.
(To get our simplified Denture Care Instructions).Dentures accumulate plaque which can have biological consequences for the mucosa and remaining dentition. As result good oral hygiene is essential for the long term success of the dentures. Just like your teeth require frequent check-ups and maintenance, this is the same with dentures. Metal removable dentures are considered to be more comfortable and hygienic. They also provide better support and stability. The disadvantage of metal dentures is they can be more costly to fabricate compared to acrylic. They are also harder to add additional teeth to the existing denture. The non-fixed dentures can move and have decreased biting force compared to natural or implant teeth. Some studies state only a 20% to 25% of the biting force compared to natural or implant teeth. Over time the bone can resorb, some studies have stated that the resorption is reduced in patient with dentures but still present. The resorbed bone can result in the denture moving or rocking more that it did when you first received the denture. This may require adjustment, addition of acrylic or may need a new denture. (Click here to see an illustration)
These are plates that you can take in and out of your mouth. They are supported by adjacent teeth and soft tissues in the mouth. They can be metal or full acrylic. The advantage of metal is that it can be thinner and stronger affecting your speech and bite less. Metal is often better tolerated. Acrylic is thicker, accumulates more plaque but is easier to add teeth too if required in the future. The biting force is reduced compared to fixed options but is still more than no teeth in the missing space. Partial dentures have clasps that attach to the natural teeth that help hold the denture in place. Depending on the missing teeth, these clasps may be on front teeth which may be visible with smiling. They can increase risk of caries and periodontal disease to adjacent teeth, they are removable, and requires good oral hygiene. They require frequent check-ups and as the bone changes over time they often require adjustments or addition of acrylic (Relines).
These can be made from acrylic or metal but are often made out of acrylic due to cost. Upper dentures are often well accepted in most cases and tend to hold well due to good suction with the roof of the mouth and soft tissue. However, lower dentures are well known for being annoying and are not as well liked due to their movement. Often clinicians will recommend keeping other lower teeth to help support lower dentures or look at implant retained or fixed dentures. Dentures have one quarter of the normal biting force of teeth, they can increase risk of caries and periodontal disease to adjacent teeth, they are removable, they are often the least comfortable option and requires good oral hygiene. They require frequent check-ups and as the bone changes over time they often require adjustments or addition of acrylic (Relines).
This is a denture type that is often used on lower dentures. Lower dentures are notorious for moving due to the tongue and other soft tissue. As a result, sometimes implants can be used to help support the denture and reduce movement. This differs from implant fixed dentures, in that the dentures are not screwed to the implants rather they are placed in a ball and socket groove. This allows the support from the implants but also allows you to remove which aids with cleaning. A great way to think of implant retained dentures are like a picture frame that is hung on a nail and string. It is supported and secure to an extent. But can be easily removed if need be.
This is a denture that is held to your jaw via implants. This has the advantage of being secure and supported. As a result, they do not move like traditional dentures. These are difficult to clean and require good maintenance and regular check-ups to ensure their longevity. A great way to think of fixed screw retained dentures are like a picture frame that has been screwed into the wall. The only way to take down the picture is to unscrew the screws. (Click here to see an illustration)
This is a denture that is given straight after the extractions before any healing has occurred. We have given this type its own tab section to allow us to go into more detail on it.
As you can imagine after the teeth are removed there is swelling and changes that take place. Just like everything else in the world these changes take time. The gums and sockets (the holes where the teeth sit in the bone) require time to heal. This can take up to 6 months for bone to fully fill in the socket.
An immediate denture is a denture that is made to be used during this healing time and is give immediately after the teeth are removed. Providing a denture immediately after extractions enables the patient to maintain their function and appearance as well as enhance adaption to the denture. As the patient is still numb, an immediate denture approach reduces post-operative pain. It is also easier to replicate the natural form of the teeth when the denture is made before extractions.
The downside of this, is the process is more demanding in terms of time and cost. As it requires more maintenance in the form of relines and in some cases may still require another denture. As a result, it is something that needs to be considered with the patient before removal of teeth. Some patients may decide to go without an immediate denture and wait for healing. In some cases, a new denture can be made after 2-3 months of healing, this should be checked with your oral health practitioner before deciding on this. There is animation below highlighting the process of immediate dentures. Click here to see animation
This page provides general information about dental topics. It does not contain all the known facts of this subject and is not intended to replace personal advice from your dentist. If your not sure about anything on this site, contact us or speak to your local oral health practitioner. Make sure you give your local oral health practitioner your complete medical history and dental history.
A selection of the references used:
Michael, C. G., Javid, N. S., Colaizzi, F. A., & Gibbs, C. H. (1990). Biting strength and chewing forces in complete denture wearers. The Journal of prosthetic dentistry, 63(5), 549–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-3913(90)90074-m
Ortman, H. R. (1962). Factors of bone resorption of the residual ridge. The Journal of prosthetic dentistry, 12(3), 429-440.
Ozan, O., Orhan, K., Aksoy, S., Icen, M., Bilecenoglu, B., & Sakul, B. U. (2013). The effect of removable partial dentures on alveolar bone resorption: a retrospective study with cone‐beam computed tomography. Journal of Prosthodontics: Implant, Esthetic and Reconstructive Dentistry, 22(1), 42-48.
Images adapted:
Adapted from free dental picture by authority dental" (CC BY 2.0) by Authority Dental
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