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When you lose a tooth or teeth, you want to find the best option for replacement. Dentures have been around for a long time. Veneers can help when chipped teeth, but don’t offer much help when teeth are missing.

Dental implants are another option. There is also the choice for implant supported dentures. Learning what these are and how they work could help you find the best possible option of your oral health.

How They Differ

Dentures are custom fit replacement teeth. They are typically made out of an acrylic material. The dentures fit the patient’s mouth and sit on the gums. The wearer removes the dentures to clean them and to give their gums a break every day.

Implant supported dentures are still custom made, but instead of sitting on the gums, they attach to implants in the jaw bone. Because they are attached to implants, they are more secure than traditional dentures. They still require the person to remove the dentures and clean them every day.

There are two types of implant supported dentures:

 

When They are an Option

Implant supported options offer many benefits, but they are not for everyone. For them to work, implants are put into the jaw. If there is not enough bone in the jaw for the implants, it is not possible to attach the dentures in this way. They also only work for a full set of either the bottom or the top teeth. They are most commonly used fo0r the lower teeth that need the extra support that implant supported dentures offer.

For more information about your oral health options, contact the professionals at our offices.

Taking good care of dentures is very important. It helps them stay perfect and function effectively. One way of caring for dentures is by soaking them overnight to get rid of all bacteria. You should then rinse them before reinserting them in your mouth. While doing that, most denture wearers put a towel in the sink before taking out their dentures. This is very important for denture safety.

Handling Dentures Cautiously

People put a towel in the sink before taking out their dentures to prevent breakage in case they accidentally drop them. Dentures are made of delicate material that can easily crack when dropped on a hard floor. Therefore, it is a good idea to put a towel in the sink when removing them. This safety precaution is highly recommended for aged denture wearers that could have problems handling dentures.

While handling dentures cautiously is vital, cleaning them is very important. You need to brush your dentures at least once daily. To do so, you should remove them gently from your mouth before cleaning. Soak them overnight in a solution, then brush them in the morning. When brushing, you can use a soft-bristled brush and a non-abrasive denture cleanser. This will help remove plaque, food particles, and deposits.

When using a denture adhesive, you should thoroughly clean the grooves fitting against your gums. This will help remove the remaining adhesive. You are warned against using denture adhesives inside the mouth. This is because they are highly acidic and could damage your gum tissues. Another important factor you should put in mind when caring for dentures is avoiding hard foods. Dentures could easily break when you use them on hard foods. This is why you should stick to soft foods, especially during the first few weeks. Schedule a consultative appointment with us for more information on handling dentures cautiously.

A prosthodontist has completed dental school like a general dentist but also completed three additional years of advanced education and training in a prosthodontic graduate program. They specialize in handling and treating facial and dental problems involving jaw structures and restoring missing teeth. Prosthodontists are highly trained in bridges, dental implants, crowns, cosmetics, dentures, and more.

Difference Between A Prosthodontists and Other Dental Specialists

“Prostho” means replacement. “Dontist” means dealing with teeth. When anything needs replaced in your mouth, prosthodontists are the experts and dedicated to this type of dental care. The dental specialty, prosthodontics pertains to the maintenance, rehabilitation, treatment planning, and diagnosis of the oral health, comfort, appearance, and function of patients suffering from missing or damaged teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues. Prosthodontists are the leaders of dental treatment plans, and they lead teams of specialists, general dentists, and other health professionals to develop solutions for all patients’ dental needs.

Prosthodontists are trained in state-of-the-art procedures and techniques for restoring optimum function and esthetics while treating complex dental conditions. Prosthodontists have a special understanding of the dynamics of a smile and know everything about preserving a healthy mouth. They have been through rigorous training and experience to take care of your dental and prosthetic needs.

There are several reasons why you might visit a prosthodontist such as an accident involving your mouth, a birth-related condition, or for cosmetic reasons. Prosthodontists specialize in several services such as denture implant fit and placement, jaw, snoring, or sleep issues, traumatic injury repairs, oral cancer reconstruction and more.

What To Expect At Your Appointment

When you visit your prosthodontist, expect your appointment to be different from your routine dental appointments that you usually go to. Be prepared to discuss with them your dental history and anything that has affected the condition of your teeth currently. They will preform a thorough examination and listen to your concerns. If you need a more serious procedure performed such as dentures or dental implants, you should expect several additional appointments in the process.

Dental bonding helps fix damaged teeth. It is a cosmetic procedure that helps restore your smile and improve your confidence. However, you need to take good care of dental bonding to prevent damage. Lack of proper care could lead to breakage and instability.

One concern regarding the use of dental bonding is whether it can stain. Dental bonding can stain and affect your smile. Here are different causes of staining when using dental bonding.

Stains On Dental Bonding

Dental bonding can stain if you don’t take good care of it. In fact, there are different types of staining associated with dental bonding. The most common one is surface staining. This happens due to the presence of small tears on the bonding that makes it stain; dirt accumulates in the scratches, creating patches of stain. You can notice the stains on the front teeth, especially when they lose their glossy finish. This can affect your smile significantly. Luckily, this type of staining can be fixed. Our professionals will polish them thoroughly and get rid of stains and scratches. As a result, you will have a bright smile.

Also, composite bonding is not an expectation since it is made from a solution of inorganic particles; therefore, it can get stained. The materials used to make it can absorb stains and cause tooth discoloration—the risk of staining increases when you drink lots of staining beverages such as tea or coffee. The stains will easily penetrate the plastic and cause discoloration. As a result, your smile will be damaged. This is why it is important to avoid staining beverages.

You should also avoid using abrasive materials that can affect the structure of the dental bonding. If you notice any signs of staining, you should visit our for checks immediately. This will restore your smile. Contact our offices for more information on dental bonding.

Dentures are dental appliances that are used to replace missing teeth. As much as they are molded to fit in your mouth, they can feel uncomfortable during the first few weeks of wearing them. Adjusting to these dental appliances might take time as your facial muscles adjust to the new structure. You might also experience changes in the ability to taste certain foods and difficulties in chewing. However, there are ways you can improve denture discomfort when eating.

Start With Soft Foods

When wearing new dentures, you should start with eating soft foods during the first few weeks. This will create sufficient time for your dentures to settle in the mouth and make it possible to start eating solid foods again. Start with using a liquid diet that includes soft foods like cooked cereals, puddings, apple sauce, soup broth, and boiled eggs.

Chew Properly and Cut Down Large Pieces

You should also chew food thoroughly and slowly before swallowing. Avoid gulping down large pieces of food because you can easily choke on them. Furthermore, you should slice vegetables and fresh fruits into very thin slices that you can easily chew. You can also cook vegetables before serving. While cereals and whole grains are good for your health, they can easily stick to your dentures. To avoid such occurrences, it is advisable to eat them with liquids to facilitate easier swallowing.

Use Denture Adhesives

Using denture adhesives will help when eating foods that need a strong bite. However, you should avoid extremely hard foods that can cause damage to the dentures. Adhesives will also prevent food particles and debris from sticking to your dentures. As a result, dental conditions like tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth sensitivity are prevented. Contact our offices for more information on how to eat comfortably with your new dentures.

Even after losing your teeth and resolving to wearing dentures, you should practice good oral hygiene. Good oral hygiene prevents the accumulation of plaque and bacteria that cause bad breath. However, if you practice good oral hygiene but still have bad breath, it could be due to wearing dentures for too long, wearing poorly fitting, wearing old dentures, or wearing unclean dentures.

Wearing Dentures For Too Long

As a denture wearer, you should give your mouth at least six hours break off the dentures. During this break, you should clean and soak your dentures to keep them in good condition. Wearing your dentures for extended periods of time encourages uncontrolled bacterial growth. This, in turn, increases your risk of gum disease and mouth sores, causing bad breath.

Poorly Fitting Or Old Dentures

Poorly fitting dentures irritate the gums and cause mouth sores. If untreated, mouth bacteria will find their way into these sores and cause fungal infection and gum disease; hence, bad breath. Thus, if you have ill-fitting dentures, you should visit us for adjustment or replacement. If you wear your dentures with adhesives to enhance fitting, ensure you clean off the preexisting adhesive before applying a new layer. Failure to do this encourages bacterial growth; hence, bad breath. Also, if your dentures are old, you should replace them to curb bad breath.

Unclean Dentures

To keep your dentures clean, you should clean them every time you clean your mouth. Cleaning your dentures prevents the accumulation of food particles and bacteria, which cause bad breath. To clean your dentures, use a mild soap or denture cleaning solution and a toothbrush. While keeping your dentures clean, you should also brush your gums and tongue at least twice a day. You should also schedule a regular check-up with us to check your denture fit and oral health. For more details on dentures and bad breath, contact our office today.

If you have a dental bridge or you are thinking of getting one, you may want to know what to do if it ever becomes loose. Dental bridges are delicate dental appliances that need proper care lest they become loose or damaged. In case your bridges become loose, there are several things you should do.

What You Should Do

If your dental bridge feels loose for any reason, you should get help from us right away. The sooner you get loose dentures fixed, the better your chances of saving them. Always treat a loose denture as a dental emergency. This is because continued use of a damaged denture can damage your gums and affect their functionality. Visiting our offices immediately, you notice a loose dental bridge will enable us to restore your smile with a one-time appointment. However, before you reach our offices, avoid moving your bridge at all costs. Also, you should not attempt to clean around or further loosen the damaged bridge. This is because any of those activities will increase the risk of damaging your abutment teeth or the bridge itself.

Causes of a Loose Dental Bridge

One of the most common causes of a loose bridge is a decay of the abutment tooth. If you fail to take care of your teeth, gums, and bridges, this will lead to decay to the teeth supporting the bridge. When the abutment tooth decays, it breaks down, loosening the cement used to attach the bridge. This makes your bridge start to wiggle and feel loose. Advanced tooth decay can lead to a total loss of a dental bridge, making it important to visit our offices for dental checks regularly. Early detection of decay will restore your tooth and make it easy to reattach your dental bridge. Visit our offices for more information on the importance of taking care of your dental bridges.

When you have missing teeth, replacing them with dentures can help restore your smile’s function and appearance. This gives you confidence and reassurance. However, using dentures for the first time can be uncomfortable. The first few weeks will need vigorous adjustment before you become used to your new dentures. Here are tips you can use to make your new experience more comfortable.

Adjusting Your Diet

Upon getting your new dentures, there are certain foods you should avoid for a comfortable experience. Foods like hard nuts can be tough on the dentures and cause great discomfort. Therefore, it is recommended that you stick to soft foods during the first few weeks if wearing dentures. You can go for foods like yogurt, eggs, potatoes, fish, and cooked vegetables, among others. While sticking to soft foods, it is important to maintain proper nutrition. Therefore, you should eat a balanced diet that includes healthy snacks.

Proper Denture Cleaning

Just like your natural teeth, dentures can accumulate tartar and plaque, causing dental infections. Therefore, it is essential to take good care of your dentures. You can do so by brushing and flossing them on a regular basis. Brush your dentures using antibacterial soap, warm water, and a toothbrush. Furthermore, you should also soak dentures in a denture cleanser to get rid of bacteria, food particles, and debris. Always remember to rinse them before reinsertion.

Speak More

As a new denture wearer, you might experience challenges with speech. The first few weeks might be problematic, but regular practice will get you used to them. Therefore, you should speak as much as possible during the first weeks. You can even read out loud for better progress. This will help you pronounce words correctly and speak effortlessly. Visit our offices for more information on how you can adjust to your new dentures.

Dental veneers can perfect your smile if you have chipped or cracked teeth, gaps between your teeth, discoloration, or teeth that do not match in shape or size. For the most part, you can care for your veneers the same as you would your natural teeth, and they should be able to last ten to fifteen years if you take good care of them. Make sure you avoid the following habits, which have the potential to damage or even break your dental veneers.

Grinding Your Teeth

If you habitually grind your teeth or clench your jaw, the force can cause your veneers to chip, crack, or break. Teeth grinding, otherwise known as bruxism, can also damage your bite and cause a number of other uncomfortable symptoms such as chronic jaw pain, TMJ disorder, tension headaches, and difficulty sleeping. Many people grind their teeth subconsciously as a response to stress or while they are asleep, but a custom mouthguard can help protect your veneers (and your natural teeth) from this harmful habit.

Chewing On Hard Objects

In addition to grinding your teeth, chewing on hard objects can also lead to broken veneers. If you frequently chew on ice, pens, pencils, or even your fingernails, these habits can damage both veneers and natural teeth, so you should try your best to stop. You should also avoid using your teeth as tools to open packages.

Other Habits That Can Harm Veneers

There are a number of other habits that can harm your veneers and decrease their lifespan, even if these habits do not necessarily lead to broken veneers. Brushing with a hard-bristled toothbrush and abrasive whitening toothpaste can damage your veneers, so we recommend using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a toothpaste without abrasive agents. And even though porcelain veneers are largely stain-resistant, they can still become discolored around the edges if you use tobacco or regularly consume beverages like coffee, black tea, soda, or red wine. Contact our office today to learn more about caring for your veneers.

When you get dentures, you do need to adjust yourself to eating with your new teeth. Do not worry, though, as you will soon get used to it.

Getting into Practice

When you had regular teeth or perhaps spaces between teeth, you probably got used to eating on one side of the mouth or the other. However, when you have dentures, that all changes. You can now eat evenly on each side of the mouth. Therefore, you should take this approach when you adjust to eating with your new teeth. You also want to take smaller bites. Make sure you thoroughly chew what you eat. Do not rush through your meal. Take your time.

Don’t Eat Anything Too Hot

Check the temperature of the foods you eat. Dentures are insulated. Therefore, you will not be able to tell the temperatures of foods as well. Test foods on your lips slightly before placing them in your mouth, so you do not burn your tongue. Also, avoid eating spicy or hot foods, as they can cause stinging or irritation, especially if you have gum sores.

Begin with a Soft Diet and Be Careful How You Drink Beverages

Begin eating foods that are naturally soft, such as puddings, applesauce, scrambled eggs, cooked oatmeal, and mashed potatoes. Eating these foods allow you to meet your nutritional needs without stressing your jaw muscles or gums. Do not allow liquids to sit in the mouth. Doing so can loosen the bottom dentures. Avoid eating certain foods, such as grainy breads or processed foods, that stick to the teeth. If you do eat them, drink water to keep your teeth clean. It also helps to avoid eating hard-to-chew meats or gummy or sticky foods that can dislodge your dentures.

You can make the adjustment to eating with dentures. You just need to find out how to make the process comfortable for you. By eating slowly and eating chewable or softer foods, you will not find eating all that difficult. Give us a call anytime to schedule an appointment if you have a denture-related concern.