January 16, 2012

How Do I Care for my Dentures?

If you have chosen to have dentures to replace your missing teeth, you’ll need to care for them properly to ensure long-term comfort and durability. If you wear dentures in the Fort Worth area, our offices can provide guidance on how to keep them clean and well cared for.

Everyday Denture Care

As with your teeth, the most important care you can provide for your dentures is everyday care. This includes:

  • Daily brushing. Just like your natural teeth, dentures must be brushed every day. Use a brush specifically made for denture care. Other types of brushes could wear your dentures down or damage the surface of the denture.
  • Rinsing after meals. Rinse your dentures after every meal to prevent staining and to remove food particles.
  • Use a denture cleaner. For deeper cleaning, use a denture cleaner periodically. Your dentist can recommend an appropriate cleaning solution.
  • Keep dentures moist. When you’re not wearing your dentures, it’s important not to let them dry out. Keep them submerged in a denture solution or in water. If your dentures include metal pieces, ask your dentist for a recommendation to keep from tarnishing the metal.

Diligent everyday care will keep your dentures clean, white, and free of food particles that can lead to bacterial growth in the mouth. Although dentures cannot decay, an excess of bacteria in the mouth can lead to other issues.

Periodic Adjustments and Other Care

Your dentures should remain stationary in your mouth, without causing discomfort. If your dentures don’t fit properly, the result could be sores in the mouth or irritation to the roof or the mouth or the gums. If you experience any discomfort, be sure to consult with your dentist immediately to have any necessary adjustments made.

If your dentures are broken, you should also see your dentist immediately so they can be repaired. In some cases, your dentures might have to be sent to an off-site lab for repairs.

To find out more about dentures and how to care for them, please contact our cosmetic and family dentistry office.

October 17, 2011

Will I be able to eat with my dentures?

Dentures Fort WorthLiving with missing teeth can have a dramatic impact on your health and your lifestyle. Replacing those teeth with attractive and comfortable dentures is definitely a high priority. Choosing dentures that are also functional and stable may very well be the top priority.

Denture patients must be able to chew and eat effectively in order to maintain a healthy, well-rounded diet. A diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, unlimited by texture, is critical to the overall health of all patients.

Choosing a dentist who is experienced with dentures in Fort Worth is the first step towards comfortable, functional new teeth. The road to your new dentures will begin with precise measurements and impressions of the mouth and jaw. Your dentist will also choose denture teeth that are properly shaped and proportioned to complement your age, gender, and physical stature. Even the shape and shade of the gum tissue can be customized for a comfortable look and feel.

Once your new denture has been designed, your dentist will carefully evaluate and adjust it to ensure an accurate fit. Although there will be a period of adjustment as you begin life with your new teeth, knowing what to expect can help to make the transition as smooth as possible.

In general, chewing firm foods can take some getting used to. Try chewing foods evenly on the left and right sides in order to balance the pressure on the denture as well as your gums. Also, be mindful of your food’s temperature. Very hot foods can be deceiving since the denture may cover quite a bit of the mouth. Many denture wearers notice that the tastes of certain foods may be altered or diminished. Complete upper dentures are often designed to cover the roof of the mouth, the location of many of the mouth’s taste receptors.

Adjusting to life with new dentures can be a comfortable and pleasurable process when working with a dentist that you can trust. It is quite common to have questions and concerns about what to expect along the way. Schedule your appointment with our dental team today to learn more about life with your new dentures.

August 15, 2011

When should I replace my denture?

dentures fort worthDentures are valuable appliances for patients who have lost all of their teeth in the upper or lower arch of their jaw. Dentures help edentulous, or toothless, patients to maintain a normal appearance and replace much of the functionality of their missing teeth.

Yet many patients who wear dentures in Fort Worth notice that the fit of the devices deteriorates over time. This is a natural phenomenon that results from physiological changes that accompany tooth loss.

A denture is custom-designed to fit the unique ridge of the patient’s jaw, so any significant change in that shape will affect the fit of the denture.

If you recently started wearing dentures and they don’t seem to fit properly, visit our dentist to see if a minor adjustment might address your problem. Brand new dentures rarely need to be replaced, but a dentist can re-fit them to make them a bit more comfortable.

Over time, however, the shape of someone’s jawbone, who wears dentures, is altered. When teeth are lost, their roots are no longer present to hold the jaw in place, so the bone wears away and its shape changes. As this process takes place, the shape of the denture remains static, so it no longer fits as well. You may notice that your dentures are slipping out of place more often or that you have to rely more on your jaw muscles to hold them in place. That’s when it’s time to visit our experienced dentists to see if you need a new denture.

More plastic can be added to the denture to accommodate some of the upward shift, but at a certain point, that approach is no longer effective. If your jawbone recedes by more than three millimeters, your dentist should replace the denture. If you don’t replace the denture, your mouth may adapt to the changes in such a way that it throws your jaw joint out of place, potentially creating major problems.

Additionally, the materials in dentures wear down over time, just as a tooth’s natural enamel does, so periodically replacing your dentures will prevent problems in this area, too.

May 6, 2011

Restore your smile with dentures

dentures Fort WorthWhen you lose your teeth, whether it’s due to decay, injury, or some other cause, the effects are wide-reaching. Your ability to talk and chew will be compromised, and you can suffer a crisis of confidence in everyday interactions, even when engaging with family and friends.

Fortunately, Fort Worth patients can turn to dentures to replace their missing teeth. A set of custom-designed dentures can help patients overcome all of the negatives associated with tooth loss. Dentures can restore a patient’s ability to eat, speak and, most importantly, smile. Whether you need full upper and lower arches, or just a partial to replace a gap left by a few missing teeth, dentures can be the solution.

Many patients have a negative perception of dentures. They think of their grandparents’ ill-fitting devices that were unattractive, uncomfortable and prone to shifting. Dentures have come a long way since then, though. Modern-day dentures are crafted based on the specifications of a patient’s unique facial structures, which improves fit and lowers the likelihood of embarrassing denture slip-ups.

Dentures are made of durable materials, and they last for many years, as long as they’re handled and cared for properly.  It’s also important to remember that, although dentures are artificial, they still need to be cleaned regularly to keep gum disease-promoting plaque and bacteria to a minimum.

Although denture technology has improved drastically in recent decades, dentures still require an adjustment period. Patients should give themselves time to get used to wearing dentures. If they are still uncomfortable after a few weeks, then a follow-up appointment for an adjustment may be in order.

If you must replace a number of missing teeth, take advantage of the advances of modern dentistry by choosing dentures. You’ll be pleasantly surprised at the comfort and level of function that they offer. Of course, they’ll improve your appearance, too.