Dentures :: Seattle, Washington

Dentures

The denture dilemma

To avoid a waste of time and money, people should seek out Bellevue dentists experienced with the treatment of full and partial dentures.

Dentures are probably the Kirkland dentist service that requires the most adjustments and repairs. Dentures placed by your dentist can be either "full," replacing all the teeth, or "partial," replacing some of the teeth. What all dentures have in common is that they are removable, meaning that a denture wearer can take the denture in and out of the mouth by him or herself. Dentures are a more economical choice for tooth replacement than a permanent bridge or dental implants, and in most cases, become relatively stable after an initial adjustment or two. Dentures can also have their share of problems. They can cause sore spots on the gum, have the acrylic teeth or other parts break, be ill fitting, loose, or damage teeth that help support them.

After dentures are fitted, they will often cause some sore spots on the gum. This does not mean that the dentist didn't do a good job, or that the dentures will never fit properly. It's just that in most cases, it will take a few visits and some minor adjustments to make the dentures comfortable. Another common problem with dentures is when a tooth becomes chipped or breaks off. This is why it is a good idea for all denture wearers to have a spare denture to use until they can go to the dentist and have it fixed. If there is no spare denture, the denture wearer can use cyanoacrylate (Krazy Glue) to carefully glue the tooth or tooth piece back into position. This is only a temporary measure until the dentist can perform a proper repair. If the whole denture breaks in half, a spare denture should also be used until the denture wearer can get to the dentist. As another option, a denture wearer may consider using a dental lab for a denture repair if no dentist is available.

Many years of denture use routinely causes resorption (a wearing away) of the bone found in the upper and lower jaws. This bone loss can cause a denture to become unstable. Dentures, especially those that are loose, can make eating, speaking, and smiling a chore. Loose dentures can usually be relined or rebased to improve their fit.

Partial dentures may cause a different type of problem. A recent study showed that the supporting teeth of a partial denture are at a substantially greater risk of being lost than if the patient had a permanent bridge or they had never had the teeth replaced.

The worst-case scenario is a denture that is poorly made from the start. A denture that does not fit properly can become a chronic problem, and often ends up in the back of a dresser drawer. To avoid this waste of time and money, people should seek out Kirkland dentists experienced with the treatment of full and partial dentures.