Dentures & Partials
Are you seeking a solution to missing teeth? People just like you have trusted tooth replacement with dentures for decades. You will be happy to know that modern dentures are much more attractive than dentures of the past. We create highly esthetic and comfortable dentures to help our patients eat a more varied diet and to address the cosmetic concerns of missing teeth.
Types of Dentures
Dentures are a removable prosthetic used to replace some or all of your natural teeth. They come in three standard types:
Conventional dentures – we fit these after the healing of your gums post-extractions.
Immediate dentures – As the name suggests, we provide immediate dentures during the healing process. Immediate dentures will require several more fittings than traditional dentures, as the shape of your jaw and gums will change during the healing process, but they have the advantage of providing teeth immediately following extractions.
Partial dentures –Partial dentures complete your smile when only some of your natural teeth require extractions. Partials anchor to your remaining natural teeth.
Adjusting to Denture Use
When you are first fitted for dentures, you may have to wear them all the time, including while sleeping. This will allow your dentist to quickly find spots that need to be reshaped due to discomfort or irritation. After the dentures are properly fitted to your jaw, dentures can be removed at night.
While dentures are not real teeth, you will want to care for them as if they were. Clean your dentures to remove food particles and plaque. You will also need to place your dentures into lukewarm water or a denture cleaning solution any time you remove them from your mouth. Hot water can warp dentures, so be sure to avoid it!
It can take some time for your mouth to adjust to the shape of dentures. At first it may feel awkward and bulky to have the appliances in your mouth, but over time, you will become accustomed to your dentures.
Contact our office for more information on whether dentures are right for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
At first, your dentist may recommend that you wear your dentures to sleep. This will speed up your mouth’s adjustment to the dentures and allow you to quickly detect and correct any spots where the fit is uncomfortable. After your mouth has adjusted to the dentures, they may be worn throughout the day and removed while you sleep. Be sure to place them in water or denture cleanser. Allowing them to dry out will distort them.
Dentures do require some adjustment to how you normally eat. Cutting crunchy foods into smaller bite-sized pieces will make it easier to chew. You should exercise caution with your dentures because they can break if you bite unexpectedly into something hard.
It will take your mouth some time to get used to the feel of dentures.
After a few weeks, however, you will feel comfortable eating and talking with your dentures in and experience little to no soreness or discomfort. If you ever do experience soreness or your dentures aren’t fitting right, please let us know so we can adjust them properly.
Our Team
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Dr. Gwen Flanagan
Principal Dentist
Gwen is Newcastle born and bred, growing up in Cooks Hill before graduating in dentistry at Sydney University in 1987. Gwen brings years of experience, gained from practicing dentistry in Public Hospitals and Private Practice in Sydney and also working overseas in the United Kingdom (British) dental system. Gwen worked in Cobar, NSW in her own dental practice for several years before returning to her home town of Newcastle. She has spent the balance of her dental career in our great city, where she currently provides her years ...
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