The 5 BIG differences between good dentures and bad dentures

If you’re looking for help with failing or missing teeth, you may have considered dentures as one option.

If you are thinking about dentures or you are currently a denture wearer, it’s important that you research your dental prosthetist to ensure that you are seeing a reputable practitioner whose patients are happy with their results.

The right solution for your situation is a personal decision; cost, effectiveness, appearance, among other factors all, come in to play. Choosing to discuss your options with your dental practitioner and looking at available treatments is a recommended first step.

Your dentist should be able to present you with a variety of options, discuss the outcomes associated with each of these and guide you to make the best choice for your needs. While there is a lot of historical negativity surrounding dentures, in the hands of a capable and practised practitioner, dentures can look natural, fit well and improve quality of life.

If you decide to restore your smile with dentures, here are some things to consider:

1. Your dentures should look like natural teeth. 

Your practitioner will do thorough preliminary work before making your denture. Photos will assist your practitioner in determining the size, shape, colour and contours of your new smile. Your teeth should not look fake or false; they should look as though they belong to you.

2. Your teeth should stay put!

Loose dentures are a denture wearer’s nightmare. You don’t want to laugh your teeth out, right? Your dentures need to remain in place, no matter what you’re doing so you can eat, talk, laugh with confidence. The cause of ill-fitting dentures are many, from incorrect impressions at work up, inadequate assessment by your practitioner, time and wear and tear, among other things. We think you must be confident in the teeth you wear so that you can live your best life.  

3. Eat what you want.

If you find you are restricted to soft foods because you wear dentures, your quality of life is not where it should be. While a steak every day might be pushing it, you should be able to bite and chew your food without difficulty while wearing dentures.

4. Longevity from your dentures.

Your practitioner should schedule you for a regular maintenance program, seeing you 6-12 monthly to check your oral health, the welfare of any remaining teeth and the fit, function and cleanliness of your dentures. Like your natural teeth, your remaining teeth, gums and oral health require regular checks to keep them in the best possible condition. With regular check-ups, we can catch any problems early before they become an issue – Neglect is expensive, regular checks save both money and time.

5. Oral Health 

A denture clinic may not offer you an ongoing dental and oral health program, it’s crucial now that you have dentures, that the health of your mouth and your dentures are regularly checked. If you are seeing a denture clinic for your dentures, don’t’ forget to maintain your regular check-ups with your dentist or hygienist also.

Types of dentures:

Immediate dentures: Immediates are planned and worked up prior to your teeth extraction so that you are able to walk out of the clinic smiling, saving the embarrassment of being without teeth for a time. These dentures will need to be adjusted while you heal and before your final dentures are issued. It may be several months before you are issued with your final dentures.

Partial dentures: a partial denture will work with remaining teeth used as an anchor or security for the replacement teeth. Your denture will be designed to match your natural teeth, so they look like your very own teeth. 

Full dentures: these replace a full arch of teeth. Our practitioners ensure that your dentures look attractive and natural, suit your face and smile and have great retention.

Full over full dentures: These replace upper and lower teeth with two dentures. Again, your teeth will look as though they belong to your own natural smile.

All-On-4 Implant retained dentures: All-On-4™ implant solutions work by attaching your teeth to 4 screws that are surgically implanted in the jawbone. To find out more about All-On-4™treatment, please call our clinic, or book in for our next information night.

Ongoing care for your dentures and for you is imperative to your wellbeing and the health and functionality of your dentures. Our Practice ensures our patients return to us for regular check-ups so we can ensure that the denture and its wearer are in optimum condition. Should you have any issues with your denture, please call and schedule an appointment with us immediately.

We are here to help find the best solution for you.