Dentures and False Teeth - Q & A

Before you commit to dentures, many of you may have (understandable) concerns related to the process of replacing missing teeth. So our dental specialists have compiled a range of commonly asked questions and answers in this easy denture guide

Many of us may lack some or all of our teeth. Missing teeth can not only result in a less attractive appearance but also make it a challenge to chew food or even speak. In the past, although dentures (or false teeth) were an option to resolve these dental problems, dentures were usually painful, bulky, and fitted poorly. With today's technology and innovations available, however, there’s been a remarkable improvement in the construction and fitting of dentures. Current dentures are crafted from modern light – weight materials, comfortable to wear and also closely resemble your natural teeth.

But before committing to dentures, many of our clients have (understandable) questions and queries related to the process of replacing missing teeth. So our dental specialists have compiled a range of commonly asked questions into an easy denture guide for our loyal blog readers and clients.

1. What are dentures? It is a removable replacement for missing upper or lower teeth and the surrounding tissues. Although removable, dentures are crafted in a variety of designs to bond or clasp onto teeth or dental implants.

2. What are the different types of dentures? There are three types of dentures available – complete (permanent), partial (permanent) and immediate (temporary).

3. What is a complete denture? Complete (or full) dentures are a solution for patients who have lost their teeth on either (or both) of the arches and are fitted in the mouth after the gum tissue has begun to heal in 8-12 weeks. Complete dentures may require a period for clients to adapt to changes in the oral cavity muscles, saliva, bone & tongue.

4. What is a partial denture? When one or more natural teeth in the upper (or lower) jaw are remaining, partial dentures or a bridge is used to correct gaps. The partial bridge is usually a combination of a replacement tooth attached to a pink or gum-coloured plastic base, often connected to a metal structure which holds the denture in place and helps maintain tooth alignment.

5. What is an immediate denture? Once teeth have been extracted, immediate dentures can be positioned in the mouth. Considered a temporary solution until conventional dentures can be made, immediate dentures require ongoing adjustments to fitting during the healing process.

6. What are dentures made of today? Removable dentures are fabricated from a range of materials including - acrylic, cast metal, and valplast. Acrylic is a comparatively low-priced material used to make standard full dentures & partial dentures and can quickly and easily be added to existing dentures to maintain a patient's appearance.

7. What are vlaplast dentures? Valplast® is a flexible, robust denture base resin that due to its unique physical and aesthetic properties allows your natural tissue tone to appear through it, enabling a more secure, natural outcome than acrylic.

Remember, although there are a lot of considerations to make before getting dentures. So if you are missing teeth – contact our dental specialists to learn more and we can evaluate if dentures, bridges or dental implants are best suited for you.

Share this Post