Dentures

Dentures are removable prosthetic procedures which are intended to replace all or some of your missing teeth. Dentures don't just provide a natural appearance and confidence but provides support for the lips and cheeks and helps you chew certain foods. It also helps you speak better.

New and exciting cosmetic dentistry advancements mean that your dentist can help you create almost natural-looking teeth that no one will notice the difference. Dentures now fulfill their purpose enabling you to have your food and be proud of your smile.

Commonly referred to as "false teeth", it is usually made of acrylic or a combination of acrylic and metal.
Find out more about dentures here.

What to expect during your appointment?

Depending on the complexity, the duration of your treatment will vary. After an initial examination, an impressions of the mouth, bite registration will be taken. Subsequent visit will be the try-in of the denture, adjustment and review.

How do I adapt to the new dentures?

New dentures will take you a few days to get used to. Points to note are:

• Try to start with softer or smaller pieces of food. Eat and chew slowly using both sides of the mouth at the same time. Once you are familiar with chewing with the dentures, you may gradually return to your normal diet.
• You may find that more saliva is generated initially when you first wear the dentures. This is natural. Try to swallow your saliva more often. Things should return to normal after a few weeks.
• Pronouncing troublesome words will at first will take a little getting used to, but you should be able to adjust to speak normally very soon.
• Minor irritation may occur at certain pressure spots where the denture is worn. Your dentist will help you relieve any discomfort by adjusting the denture surface. You should stop wearing the denture if the pain is too much. Consult your dentist immediately.

Maintaining dentures's cleanliness

Just like natural teeth, dentures do accumulate plaque and food debris. Dentures need tooth brushing and regular cleaning. You won't want to have stains and bad odours from your dentures.

You should clean your dentures after every meal. Do keep in mind the following:

• Use a soft brush or denture brush.
• Do not use hot water as it may cause the denture to change its shape.
• Use mild detergent to clean. Do not bleach.
• Hold your denture firmly when you are cleaning so as to avoid dropping it. Accidents may cause chipping or breakage.
• Do soak your dentures using denture cleanser weekly to remove stains. Make sure you rinse thoroughly first before putting them on.
• When not in use, store your dentures in water, as they may lose their shape if left to dry.