An Overview of Immediate Dentures

If you need to get all your teeth extracted, then we will plan to create an immediate denture appliance for your mouth. Then you won’t have to live with the embarrassment of having missing teeth while you wait to receive permanent dentures.

Before the teeth extraction procedure, our denture specialists will take impressions of your gums and the remaining natural teeth in your mouth. This will help them create the most accurate temporary dentures for your mouth after your remaining teeth are extracted. You will receive these temporary dentures immediately following the extraction of your teeth, which is why they’re called “immediate dentures.”

What to Expect After Your Teeth Get Extracted

Don’t expect your immediate dentures to be a perfect fit because they are made before your teeth are extracted. However, they are still better than living with no teeth because they will restore your smile and allow you to chew food. Eventually, you will receive permanent dentures to replace your immediate dentures, and they will fit much better.

In the meantime, it is imperative to obey the postoperative instructions that our dentist gives you. Since your jawbone and gums will slowly recede after your teeth get extracted, you must receive periodic check-ups to ensure the healing process is going smoothly.

We will continue to give you gum tissue conditioners and temporary linings to enhance the fit of your immediate dentures during the healing process. Once your gum tissues finish healing, you’ll receive a permanent reline to ensure the best fit for your mouth. The permanent reline will be a lot more comfortable than your temporary relines.

An Overview of Implant Retained Dentures

Losing a single tooth can affect your oral health and the quality of your bite. Not only that, but a missing tooth can also affect your chewing abilities and put more stress on your other natural teeth and jaw muscles.

Of course, most people only focus on the appearance of their smile after losing a tooth. But you must also consider the oral health effects that follow it too. Therefore, we may recommend an upper denture or lower denture to replace a few missing teeth without extracting your other teeth.

Upper dentures are usually comfortable for people to wear and chew food. But if you need a lower denture to replace your lower missing teeth, it might become more uncomfortable in this case.

Fortunately, you can choose from numerous implant-based replacement options for your lower missing teeth. These options are as follows:

Ball Attachment Denture

Some people choose a ball attachment denture, where we insert two implants into the lower jawbone. Then you can just snap the lower denture onto the implants quickly and conveniently before chewing food. As a result, you should notice more stability in your lower dentures than you experienced before.

On the downside, your lower denture may still move around and cause food particles to get stuck in them. Then you could end up with sore spots in your mouth. To overcome this challenge,  make regular appointments with us so that they can continue adjusting your lower denture to fit your mouth better.

Bar Attachment Denture

The bar attachment denture requires between 4 to 6 implants to be inserted into your lower jawbone, based on its shape and size. We will wait for your jawbone and gum tissues to heal before connecting a customized support bar to the implants. Then you will receive a customized denture with internal retention clips that securely snap onto the support bar. Dentists refer to this as an “overdenture.”

The bar attachment option offers more stability and less movement compared to the ball attachment option. You can also remove the bar attachment denture and clean it as needed.

Screw-Retained Denture

The screw-retained denture requires at least five implants inserted into your jawbone. After that, we will use clasps or screws to attach the denture appliance into the implants permanently.

The denture never makes contact with the gum tissue, so you can still clean the areas underneath the denture while it remains in your mouth. You don’t need to remove the denture to clean underneath like the other two options above. The only time the screw-retained denture gets removed is when you visit us for a scheduled maintenance service.

What If Your Upper Teeth Are Missing?

An upper denture appliance is available to replace your missing upper teeth too. But since the upper jawbone doesn’t have as much density as the lower jawbone, you may need to get additional implants before inserting your new upper replacement teeth.

On the bright side, some upper dentures don’t have to cover the roof of your mouth. It depends on how many implants you receive in your upper jawbone. So if your upper denture doesn’t cover your mouth, it will feel more comfortable in your mouth and make it easier to taste your food entirely.

Talk to us for additional information on the different upper denture design options available for your mouth.

Partial Dentures 

Designed to meet the specific needs of a patient, a partial denture serves to replace several missing teeth rather than complete uppers or lowers. This removable device restores a natural appearance, improves speech clarity, and makes eating more efficient.

Materials and types of partial dentures

The complete design of a partial denture depends upon each patient’s unique needs and anatomy. Partial dentures are typically made out of acrylic or a blend of acrylic and metal. To preserve any remaining oral tissues and teeth, partial dentures are made to be as self-cleansing as possible.

SoonerCare DDS takes great care in designing partial dentures that ensure the most evenly distributed chewing forces over the surface of existent soft tissue and teeth. Depending on your situation, changes may need to be made to your existing teeth to ensure complete equalization of chewing forces.

Partial dentures comprised of metal are considered structurally superior to other materials and are the preferred style. Compared to acrylic partials, metal partials are far more hygienic and thinner. While an acrylic partial may aid in the use of a temporary partial, a consultation with SoonerCare DDS will determine the best route for your oral care.

Partial Dentures Benefits

When it comes to partials, you want to limit the movement of any existing teeth. For example, a removable partial denture helps to restrict movement while also providing better digestion through an improved ability to chew and grind food.

Dentures Benefits

Because dentures have been specifically designed to work with your gums, they typically provide a more secure fit. However, your gum tissues continue to change with time, affecting the overall fit of your dentures. Over time they become loose, which allows them to move more freely while in use. Professional denture relines are suggested every one to two years to maintain dental functionality and security.

Hard Denture Relining

If you wear full dentures, it’s crucial to have a hard reline done every two years. A hard reline involves the removal of an outer layer of plastic from the interior surface of your dentures. It is then filled with putt-like denture material, capable of conforming to the unique contours of your mouth for an accurate dental impression. This impression is sent off to a dental lab, where it is adjusted however necessary to conform to the shape of your specific gum tissue. Ultimately, a hard reline provides maximum contact between your mouth and your dentures.

Soft Denture Relining

Due to tender gums and sore spots, some patients may experience an inability to wear regular dentures. In this case, we recommend relining the denture entirely with a more pliable material. This material only requires replacement every one or two years, and compared to standard hard reline acrylic; it is less likely to cause sore spots in patients. When a more permanent solution does not work into a patient’s budget, such as implanting retained dentures, a denture soft reline may serve as a solution.

Temporary Denture Relining

Dentures that have gone too long without servicing may cause swelling, redness, and misshaping of a patient’s gums. Not only does this cause severe discomfort, but it also leads to issues making new impressions for soft and hard relines alike. SoonerCare DDS often recommends temporary or medicated relining material to ease inflammation. This will provide a tighter denture fit through a pliable, soft material. After a few weeks, the gums will have returned to a normal state, ready for a hard reline.

Denture Maintenance, Rebase & Repairs

DENTURE REBASING

Sometimes the denture’s teeth have remained in good condition, while the base material has worn out. Signs often involve cracked denture material, weak and old pink bases, and more. Denture rebasing consists of a replacement process to create a more stable foundation without needing teeth replacement. Although the process of rebasing is similar to relining, rebasing solely involves the replacement of pink-acrylic denture base material.

Denture Repair

Damaged dentures require immediate attention, regardless of the circumstance. Whether they have become fractured or damaged, denture repairs often restore them to their original condition. Many denture repair procedures are completed on a same-day basis, depending on the case. In the event of additional steps, we will advise you on denture conditions and the time required for adequate repairs.

Denture Exams & Maintenance

Dental care is an investment, and dentures are no exception. Dentures require specific attention to maintain overall performance, especially in oral health. A simple exam with us will go to great lengths to ensure your dentures’ proper function and fit.

Medical & Dental History

Several dental and medical conditions can affect the fit of your dentures. This information can play a critical role in your oral health and maintenance. Keeping your medical and dental history updated helps your dental team be informed of significant changes to your well-being.

Oral Exam

Early detection of numerous conditions can be crucial in treating many pre-cancerous and cancerous issues. A yearly exam can also greatly assist in detecting any oral abnormalities.

Tissue And Bone

An ill-fitting denture can cause more significant issues than sheer discomfort. In fact, severe changes to the tissue and bone integrity may affect your oral health. Our team makes routine assessments to ensure each patient is offered recommended solutions unique to their needs.

Comfort, Fit & Integrity of Dentures

Ill-fitting dentures can lead to many issues, including speech impediments, tissue irritations, bite problems, and more. Leaving conditions such as these unchecked for any length of time can cause serious complications. Fortunately, many of these issues are easily resolved. A routine assessment with SoonerCare DDS ensures cracks, broken or loose teeth, and chips in your dentures won’t go unnoticed.

Advice And Tips On Caring For Your Dentures

• Only leave your oral health diagnosis and full or partial dentures adjustments to the hands of our qualified dental professionals.

• Brush your dentures thoroughly daily, touching every point inside and outside. Do this with a soft and relatively sizable nylon toothbrush recommended for dentures. These toothbrushes typically feature ground-based bristles.

• Always opt for denture creams as alternatives to toothpaste. Toothpaste is abrasive and may scratch your denture. Be sure to rinse with cold water after usage.  

• If you’re placing your dentures in hot water, warp. 

• Consistent inspection. This allows you to identify worn-out teeth quickly and act proactively. 

• Avoid wearing out or staining your dentures. 

• Let us know every one of the medications you currently take. 

• Make constant and regular visits with your dental professional a priory. 

• Loose dentures may result in friction or unwanted pressure on your tissues, bones, and gums. Have your dentures checked immediately if you notice any friction or pressure.

• Preserve the moisture content of your dentures by covering them in dentures cleaning solution or water anytime you’re not using them. Else, you’ll be left with a dried-out denture.