Dentures Essendon
What kind of dentures do I need?
There are different types of dentures available at SIA Dental. The denture base may be made from acrylic, cobalt-chrome (metal) or flexible acrylic. The denture teeth may be acrylic or porcelain. The denture may replace one or more teeth.
A full denture replaces all of your natural teeth that have been lost through dental decay, gum disease or trauma. Full dentures are made of high quality acrylic and rest on your gums securely with the ‘suction effect’. The success of full dentures may depend on how your jaws are positioned and the width of bone in your jaws. In some cases, dental implants are required to provide additional stability. Full dentures can also be customised to provide lip and cheek support to improve your facial features.
A partial denture replaces some of your missing natural teeth that have been lost through dental decay, gum disease or trauma. Partial dentures can be made with a high quality acrylic or cobalt-chrome backing. These contain clasps that clip onto your existing teeth. Acrylic dentures are relatively inexpensive, quick to fabricate and easy to modify if teeth needs to be added. However, they are thicker and may be less comfortable. Cobalt-chrome dentures are more expensive and take longer to fabricate, however, they feel more comfortable and are much stronger.
The following case performed at SIA Dental shows replacement of the upper teeth with a full denture and lower teeth with a partial denture:
The following case done at SIA Dental shows the replacement of a missing front tooth with a flexible partial denture:
How long do I have to wait after losing my teeth before I get dentures?
Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are dentures that are put in ‘immediately’ after having teeth extracted.
Immediate Dentures have a number of advantages:
- Aesthetics not affected – You don’t have to leave the clinic with a gap in your smile
- Better healing – It promotes better healing by stabilising the blood clot underneath
- Less bone resorption
- Maintaining function – It allows you to continue to chew and speak (although having a new appliance in your mouth may affect normal speech)
- Easily adjusted – They can be easily relined when the gum shrinks to improve the fit.
Issues that arise over time with immediate dentures:
- After teeth are extracted, your gums will heal and shrink. Most changes occur during the first three months. This means that the denture will become progressively loose.
- A temporary denture reline to adjust the inner surface of the denture can be done initially to improve the fit of your immediate denture
- A permanent denture reline is recommended when the bone levels are stable at around 6 months. At this point other more permanent options such as, a new denture or dental implants can be considered, depending on your situation.
- The amount of shrinkage and healing time will vary between individuals.
There are pros and cons to various denture options and it is important to consult with your dentist at SIA Dental to make the right choice for you.
How are dentures made?
To get the perfect fit you will need to have a series of appointments with a dentist at SIA Dental to obtain impressions, moulds and measurements. These records are sent to a local laboratory where the moulds are made into custom designed dentures to suit your mouth and smile.
The time frame depends on the type of dentures required.
The team at SIA Dental look forward to working with you to achieve your ideal smile and dental health.