Teeth can be lost at any age due to decay, dental diseases or due to injuries. It is imperative to replace missing teeth at the earliest. Failure in not doing so can cause a tilt in the remaining teeth which tend to move into the gaps, leading to decreased efficiency in chewing food.

Chances of tooth decay and gum diseases increase as well, when food gets trapped in between teeth. Loss of several teeth can lead to sagging of facial muscles which can affect speech and lead to low self-esteem. Replacement teeth or dentures are an efficient choice for missing teeth and adjacent tissues..

Depending upon your requirement your dentist can help you select from three kinds of dentures: Full, Partial or Implant-supported dentures.

For those who are missing all their teeth in their upper and lower arch, a full denture is the recommended option. Full dentures can be either “Conventional” or “Immediate.” Immediate dentures are made beforehand and are fitted as soon as all the teeth are removed, so that you have an immediate replacement of your teeth. Gums may shrink as they heal and the wearer may require adjustments to be done. Conventional dentures are made once the teeth have been removed and the tissues of the gums have begun healing. The process takes from 2 to 3 months and the patient would be without teeth during this period. An option is to wear immediate dentures during the waiting period. Full dentures are completely removable and should be cleaned daily.

For those patients who have some teeth intact, dentists recommend partial dentures to fill in the gaps created by missing teeth. The type of partial dentures that is best suited will depend upon factors like number and position of the missing teeth. Removable synthetic acrylic partials are teeth which are attached to a plastic or metal framework which clips on to your natural teeth via metal clasps. While preventing your teeth from drifting into the gaps left by the loss of a tooth, partial dentures help retain your remaining natural teeth.

Implant-supported dentures are complete dentures that are attached and supported by titanium screws or dental implants that are fixed in the jaw bone. Implant-supported dentures are very effective since they provide greater stabilization during chewing. These are usually made for the lower jaw as full dentures are at times unstable.

It is very important to ensure that your dentures provide optimal functional benefits and are comfortable at the same time.

If your dentures are causing discomfort while chewing or if you have trouble being understood while talking, then it is probably because your dentures are not aligned properly.

Even though your dentures were a perfect fit when you first got them fitted, after a few years they may need to be realigned. Why? Just like any part of your body which changes over the years, your mouth undergoes physical changes which affects the shape and size of your gums and underlying bone structure. This means that the dentures which fit you comfortably a few years back may not be doing so now.

Depending on the condition and strength of your gums and bones, your dentist will make necessary alterations to your existing dentures. The procedure may involve adding or removing mass to the base of the dentures so that they provide a more comfortable fit suited to the current shape of your mouth. It may also involve adding a soft lining to pad the base of the dentures so that they provide a better grip and do not come loose or fall off.

Your dentures are ideally meant to supplement the appearance and function of the teeth that you don’t have. If they are not fulfilling these requirements then you should see a dentist to realign your dentures because wearing improperly aligned dentures can lead to sore gums and other painful complications. Ideally the alignment of your dentures may need to be evaluated and rectified every two or three years or if you feel any kind of discomfort wearing, you should see your dentist and check if your dentures need realignment.

Replacing lost teeth is equally important to maintain your general health. Missing teeth greatly affects the kind of food you eat which can lead to a deficient diet. By wearing complete maxillary dentures you can regain your ability to consume normal food and also gain maximum nutritional from the food you eat by properly performing the essential functions of biting and chewing.

These are removable dental prosthetic devices that are used to replace the function and appearance of your upper teeth. The wearer attaches the dentures to the maxilla or upper jawline and they ideally should aid the wearer to perform most of the main functions associated with teeth such as chewing and biting. In addition, complete maxillary dentures restore the appearance of the lost teeth and will allow the wearer to maintain a natural look and smile.

While loss of teeth can be a traumatic experience, its long-term effects can influence the overall health of the patient. Not having your natural teeth can lead a person to drastically curtail the food he eats and thereby affect their source of nourishment. When you cannot chew normal food then your food intake suffers considerably which could lead to other medical complications caused by lack of nutrition.

A wearer fitted with complete mandibular dentures can benefit from regaining the functional use of teeth which have been lost in the lower jawline or mandibular. The dentures are completely removable and will not only provide the wearer with the ability to chew and eat normal food but improve the general quality of their life. They also significantly improve the appearance and self-esteem of the wearer by restoring a natural appearance.

A person missing two or more teeth may benefit from a partial acrylic denture.

A cost-effective solution, partial acrylic dentures are removable prosthetic devices which restore teeth functions, improve appearance and also help to correct any speech irregularities caused by the missing teeth. Acrylic dentures are an alternative to metal implants and can provide long-term comfort when professionally fitted and used properly.

Getting fitted with full acrylic dentures can do wonders for the wearer’s appearance, dental health, overall health and self-esteem.

Acrylic dentures are one of the most common and popular dental solutions to replace missing teeth. They are easy to fabricate and generally require very less time for the wearer to get used to.

When properly fitted they can afford the wearer all the natural functions associated with teeth as well as significantly improve their appearance and speech.

Fabricated using an alloy of Cobalt and Chromium which provides rigidity and strength to the base of the partial dentures, they are a less bulky and therefore more comfortable prosthetic device compared to other conventional dentures.

As a lightweight material it combines multiple advantages of comfort, strength and durability.

Following the extraction of teeth, it is possible to replace them with an immediate denture that can be fabricated the same day.

Immediate dentures can be a long-term or a temporary solution depending on the patient’s oral health condition following extraction.

Since healing periods and comfort levels vary from case to case, immediate dentures may require relining after some time to optimise its fit and comfort as the gums and tissue in the mouth can shrink after extraction.

A denture is fashioned and fitted to provide the wearer with maximum functional benefits to replace the loss of teeth. It is natural for the patient to experience some initial discomfort but after a few weeks of wearing the dentures, if discomfort persists, then your dentist will need to adjust the denture to enable it to fit more comfortably.

It is important to inform your dentist of any problems that you may have following the fitting of dentures so that they can be corrected.

Dentures are susceptible to stains, plaque and tartar just like normal teeth. It is therefore necessary to perform maintenance cleaning and polishing of your dentures at regular intervals. At your Merrylands dental facility, you can benefit from a professional cleaning and polishing service to ensure your dentures remain in pristine condition even after years of use.

Depending on the eating and drinking habits of the wearer, cleaning and polishing of dentures may be required every six months or sooner.

Dentures that once fit snugly may become loose for various reasons. While it could be caused by wear and tear, sometimes the shape and size of the gums and tissue in the mouth shrink which causes dentures to become loose.

At your Merrylands dental facility, you can get your dentures remodelled so that they continue to provide maximum functional benefits as well as look natural when you wear them. Remodelling of dentures usually involves making some very minor additions or alterations and can be a cost-effective measure to prolong the life and durability of your dentures.

Repairing the broken base of a denture requires professional attention and care. You should not attempt to repair a broken denture on your own. Dentures are fabricated from a combination of material that includes acrylic, ceramic and metal.

A cracked or bent denture should be brought to your Merrylands dental facility so that it can be immediately repaired and returned for use. Depending on the extent of the damage, the repair of a denture may be done the same day or may take a few days.

If you are wearing partial dentures and one of the neighbouring real tooth get damaged or needs to be extracted, adding a tooth to your existing denture could be a timely and effective solution. However, your dentist will first evaluate the specifics of your case and accordingly determine if adding a tooth to your existing dentures is a long-term and convenient solution. Your dentist needs to determine if your existing dentures can accommodate an additional tooth.

Relining dentures with a direct soft layer is recommended to enhance the fit of the denture on the gums as well as to aid in cushioning the hard base of the dentures where it comes in contact with the soft tissues in your mouth.

Direct softy relining is usually a day procedure whereby the relining material can be directly applied to the dentures and it sets in your mouth to adapt to the contours of your mouth. Soft relining is usually recommended as a short-term solution to allay discomfort and adjust the dentures for a better fit.

A directly applied hard relining of the dentures is recommended when the dentures have become lose due to shrinking of the gums and tissues. Due to the natural process of aging, gums and tissues tend to change shape and size and dentures will need to be relined every two to three years so that they fit perfectly and do not come loose or fall of.

A direct hard lining can temporarily be applied to the base of the dentures when the patient is in the dentist’s chair until an indirect hard lining is prepared in the dental laboratory.

When the gums and tissues become smaller due to the natural process of aging the denture become loose and will need to be relined. A soft reline is especially recommended for wearers with sensitive gums. The soft reline material is prepared in the dental laboratory and moulded to the base of the dentures to ensure better stability and comfort.

To get the most benefit out of your dentures, it is important to ensure that they provide functional value as well as complement the appearance of your facial features. Dentures tend to become loose after two or three years following their initial fitting. This is due to reabsorption of the gums and tissue which supports the base of the dentures. Indirectly applied hard relining is moulded to the base of the dentures and last for about two to three years.