Dentures are a removable replacement for missing teeth. They are carefully crafted by the St. Paul, MN Dentures Dentist to look completely natural. Dentures are created so that they are not only functional, but enhance your smile as well.
You may have heard dentures referred to as being either partial or complete. Partial dentures are used to fill spaces created by missing teeth and act as placeholders to prevent surrounding teeth from shifting. When all teeth are missing, dentures are referred to as being complete.
When it comes to complete dentures, there are two types – conventional or immediate. Conventional dentures are used when all teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has been allowed time to heal completely, usually about four to six weeks. The disadvantage with conventional dentures is that during the healing period the patient will have no teeth. In order to prevent this, the St. Paul, MN Dentures Dentist creates immediate dentures in advance so that they can be placed immediately after the removal of teeth.
The process of having dentures made requires several visits to the dentist for preparation. The first step is taking impressions and measurements of your teeth so that the dentures will provide a comfortable fit and natural appearance. This will be followed by several appointments where the dentures will be adjusted for a perfect fit and tweaking of their shade and shape. Finally, your dentist will precisely adjust and place the completed denture.
It is very common for patients with new dentures to experience notice an increase in production of saliva, as well as some soreness and difficulty in adjusting to speaking and chewing. These problems will gradually subside as you adjust to the new dentures.
Dentures are created to be very durable and, with proper care, will last many years. It is not uncommon, though for your dentures to be repaired or adjusted due to normal wear.