0161 445 10 10
Dentures
What are dentures?
A denture (false teeth) is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available - complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.
Why should I wear dentures?
When we lose teeth it can lead to many problems such as loss of support for our cheeks and lips leading to the appearance of a "sunken face" which can have an ageing effect on our appearance and leave many peolpe embarrassed to smile. Loss of teeth can have an affect on our speech and our ability to eat and chew. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position. Dentures can improve all of these problems and now can look very natural.
What are dentures made of?
Dentures can be made of acrylic, metal or a flexible material. To find out which material is best for you an appointment with your dentist should be made to discuss your needs.
What happens when dentures are made?
The denture development process takes about three weeks to 1.5 months and several appointments. Once your dentist determines what type of appliance is best for you, the general steps are to:
- Make a series of impressions of your jaw and take measurements of how your jaws relate to one another and how much space is between them.
- Create models, wax forms, and/or plastic patterns in the exact shape and position of the denture to be made. You will "try in" this model several times and the denture will be assessed for color, shape, and fit before the final denture is cast.
- Cast a final denture
- Adjustments will be made as necessary after fitting as your teeth “bed in”.
Immediate dentures are made in advance of tooth extraction This is where an impression is taken prior to tooth extraction and a denture is made and placed immediately when the tooth is. As a result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore a disadvantage of immediate dentures compared with conventional dentures is that they require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process and generally should only be considered a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made.
Denture Hygiene and Maintenance
In order to keep your dentures at their optimum, you need to remove them every night and clean them by brushing and soaking them in water overnight. You can use special denture cleaning tablets if you wish to remove light staining.
It is important to keep your dentures clean as bacteria and fungi can live on your denture and be easily transferred to your gums and surrounding tissues. Do leave your denture out at night as this gives your gums and surrounding tissues a 'rest' and visit your dentist regularly for oral health screening.
0161 445 1010
Dr Irfan Haque BChD
Dr John Latham BDS BSc
Ms Frances Sands Bsc OHS
| Monday - Wednesday: | 9.15 am - 5.30 pm |
| Thursday: | 9.15 am - 7.00 pm |
| Friday: | 9.15 am - 1.00 pm |
