Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth, and can be removed at your discretion. Your overall oral health will determine if you would be a candidate for full dentures or for partial dentures.
Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed. Before extracting any of your teeth, Dr. Firlik will take impressions in your mouth that will be used to have dentures created for you. After your teeth have been extracted, your dentures will be made for you. You will have at least one follow-up visit to adjust your new dentures because as your mouth heals, the bone of the upper and lower arches slightly change shape.
A partial denture is an option when some of your teeth can be saved. A partial denture is similar to a bridge but it is not permanently fixed in your mouth.
When dentures are placed over your gums, you might find that they feel bulky or that you don’t seem to have enough room for your tongue. At other times your dentures might feel loose. They might affect the way you eat and talk, for a while. Over time, however, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures as they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth.
You should care for your dentures like they are natural teeth. You should brush them to remove plaque and food particles before removing them. After you have removed them, you should place them into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water, which could affect their shape. Your dentures are delicate, too, so take care when handling them and be careful not to drop them...and never try to adjust your dentures yourself because you could damage them.
Dr. Firlik is ready to restore your smile with new dentures.