Dentures

Dentures are custom-designed removable appliances worn in the mouth to replace missing teeth. They are available in a variety of materials, and typically comprise of a framework supporting artificial false teeth. They are worn to restore function and appearance, and are taken out to allow cleaning and for the mouth to rest.

Why would I need a Denture?

Teeth may be missing for several reasons, for example following trauma, injury, or surgery, decay or gum disease, and where teeth are congenitally absent. Dentures can be worn to:

• Improve the appearance of your smile if the gaps of the missing teeth are noticeable
• Help with chewing and eating your food
• Restore the ability to make certain sounds when speaking
• Support the teeth either side of a gap to prevent tilting or movement
• Replace large gaps where Dental Bridges are not an option
• Act as a provisional replacement for gaps where Dental Implant treatment is being carried out, to allow the Dental Implant to heal under the gum
• Replace teeth that are gradually failing in the mouth due to gum disease

What materials are used to make Dentures?

At Cirencester Dental and Aesthetics, our dentists work closely with our preferred dental laboratories to provide Dentures ranging from Partial Dentures replacing single- or multiple-missing teeth, to Complete Dentures replacing the whole arch of teeth. There are a variety of materials available to the dental laboratory when making Dentures, and our dentists will recommend the most appropriate material to provide the most effective and comfortable result. The artificial teeth used are usually made of acrylic.

• Acrylic Dentures: suitable for Partial and Complete Dentures. Acrylic is a plastic-type material, usually pink in colour, although can be made clear. These dentures fit onto your gums and, in the upper arch, across the palate as well. They can have wire or resin clasps added to them to grip onto your natural teeth. Acrylic is a good strength material but can fracture if too thin or worn down. If necessary, acrylic dentures can be repaired easily, and can have teeth added to them later if further natural teeth need to be removed.
• Metal-Framework Dentures: suitable for Partial and Complete Dentures. These Dentures have a rigid metal-alloy framework (skeleton) that supports the artificial teeth in your gaps. They have integrated clasps to grip onto your natural teeth. The metal-alloy is strong and very durable, meaning these dentures can be made thinner than acrylic dentures and so will feel less bulky in the mouth. The traditional alloy used is a Cobalt-Chrome mixture; we also offer a Titanium framework which is more lightweight and biocompatible. These metal-framework dentures usually rely on your natural teeth to hold in place securely, so it is important to maintain these support teeth. Breakage of the metal is rare, but the artificial teeth can wear down over time; new and additional teeth can be added to the denture, but the dental laboratory will need more time for this if extra metal has to be cast or welded into place.
• Flexible Dentures: suitable for Partial Dentures. These Flexible dentures are made from a lightweight, pink-/gum-coloured, nylon-based material. There is an optimum degree of flexibility that gives good support when chewing or eating, whilst preventing any breakages compared to a rigid material. The material can be used to make clasps that grip around the necks of your natural teeth that are more comfortable and less noticeable than metal clasps. They are ideal for patients who may have had a reaction to Dental Acrylic or Metal-alloy materials, and will provide a long-lasting, metal-free appearance. Breakage of the nylon material is very rare, and if teeth need to be added to the denture in the future, this process can take around a week for the specialist denture laboratory to complete.
• Hybrid Dentures: a combination of the acrylic, metal-alloy, and flexible materials can be used on the same Denture. Using the beneficial properties of each material allows us to create the most comfortable, long-lasting Denture for you.

How are Dentures prepared and fitted?

Making a set of Dentures usually takes from three to five visits.

• On your first visit, your dentist will take standard upper and lower impressions of your mouth using a dental putty material and send it to one of our preferred dental laboratories. A further impression visit may be required where the dental laboratory needs to have a more accurate impression; they will provide us with a custom-fitted impression tray for a closer fit.
• During your next visit we will record the dimensions of your bite, so that the new dentures do not feel too much of a mouthful and to ensure good lip support. We also choose the colour and appearance of the artificial teeth, closely matching any remaining natural teeth.
• If we are making a Metal-framework or Hybrid material Denture, then we usually have a visit to confirm that this framework fits the mouth comfortably.
• The Dental Laboratory will then create a trial denture; where the main shape of the gums is crafted in wax, and the selected artificial teeth are set into position. With this, we can try the denture in your mouth before the final stage and check the fitting onto the gums, the shape and appearance of the artificial teeth, the bite onto the opposing teeth, the support for the neighbouring teeth, the cheek and lip support, the effect on your tongue and speech, and the overall look and feel of the denture. If small adjustments are required, we can carry them out by sculpting the wax and moving the teeth as necessary. For larger adjustments, we may return the trial denture to the Dental Laboratory to make the changes and have another trial fitting appointment to check. Once everything is to your satisfaction, the denture will be returned to the lab to be finished in the chosen material.
• At the fitting visit, you will be presented with your new dentures. We will check the fitting once more and make minor adjustments as necessary. We will show you how to insert and remove the denture without damaging the rest of the mouth. We will also provide you with aftercare instructions on how to best look after your dentures so that they will look and last as long as possible.
• New dentures will often take some time for the mouth to get used to, if any problems arise soon after you have your new dentures fitted, then we can arrange an appointment to make further adjustments.

At Cirencester Dental and Aesthetics there are various options available when it comes to having a new or replacement denture.

For more information regarding this treatment