Denture Consent

Dentures are a removable appliance used to replace missing teeth. They are fabricated using either acrylic or cobalt chrome to which false teeth are added. They help with speech, chewing, add support to your lips and chin, as well as improving the appearance of your smile.

There are two types of dentures:

• Partial denture which replaces one tooth or several teeth.
• Full denture which replaces the whole set of teeth, on the upper or the lower.

Dentures are kept in place by either using clasps which anchor around neighbouring teeth or by the dentures natural suction. On occasions a denture fixative or glue is recommended to aid in keeping the denture in place.

We will asses your needs and thoroughly examine your mouth for suitability for dentures, looking at:

• All your existing teeth, checking for mobile teeth as they may have to be removed prior to having new dentures.
• Looking at restorations, fillings, crowns etc.
• The health of your gums, to make sure there is no infection present.
• The way the teeth bite together
• If you have no natural teeth, assessing your gums and underlying bone.

The procedure will be explained to you and a treatment plan given stating all the stages and costings.

Generally, from 2 up to 4 appointments will be necessary as dentures are made in stages. The stages are the same whether you are having full dentures or partial dentures. The only exception being an ‘Immediate Denture’, when a tooth is extracted, and the denture is fitted immediately to replace the missing tooth. This denture will then have to be adjusted or replaced in 3-6 months after the extraction. This is an additional cost.

Your Dentures

It will take a while to get used to your new dentures, time and patience is needed. Upper dentures may affect your speech for a few days whilst your tongue gets used to having the denture in place, please persevere as this will soon pass.

Dentures may cause some soreness in the first 24 hours, if the soreness persists, please contact us as the dentures may need slight adjustments, this can be done at the surgery.

Keeping your dentures clean at all times is important. Rinse them after meals if possible and brush them twice a day using toothpaste or soap water. Dentures are only to be worn whilst you are awake; they need to be removed at night as your gums need to have ‘a rest’. Having this rest keeps your gums healthy. Your dentures can then be sterilised in a denture solution while you sleep. Always rinse or brush your dentures before putting them back in your mouth. If your dentures get stains that you cannot remove, ask us to clean them professionally at your next appointment. This is an additional cost.

It is important that you still have regular examinations with us even if you have no natural teeth, as we need to look for changes in your gums and underlying bone. Also, to check your tongue, throat, cheeks and lips for infection or signs of oral cancer.

Denture Consent

1. Stability. The stability and retention of the denture depends on many factors, including the attachment and fit of the denture to natural teeth, implants if any, the amount and type of bone, gum tissue, and saliva, as well as the ability in placing and removing the denture.
2. Appearance. Every attempt is made to create a natural appearance for the denture; however, it may not be possible for the denture to support the lip and facial contours perfectly.
3. Denture soreness. There may be gum soreness or discomfort under the denture. This can be relieved with adjustments and tissue treatment. It may take several appointments before the denture fits comfortably.
4. Denture Fit. The new denture may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them, and the denture may feel loose while the cheek muscles and tongue learn to keep them in place.
5. Numb Lip. May occur from the pressure of the removable denture. This problem requires selective adjustment and in rare cases, a nerve might need surgical repositioning.
6. Regular Care. Appointments with us is necessary to maintain good oral health and ensure the denture retains their proper fit and function.
7. Dry Mouth. The quantity of saliva may be adversely affected by some systemic problems, medication and/or radiation therapy around the head and neck. Lack of saliva may increase the irritation of a removable denture against the gum tissue, and lack of saliva can severely increase the incidence of tooth decay.
8. Food Impaction. Removable dentures always have some space between the pink acrylic resin portion and the gum tissue. In addition, there is always some movement of the removable denture during mastication. These factors create a situation where food may accumulate between the denture and the gum tissue. Therefore, it is essential to remove the denture for cleaning on a periodic, daily basis. Removable partial dentures with metallic clasps may have additional food retention problems.
9. Chipped and wear. Porcelain denture teeth have the slowest rate of wear and the highest stain resistance, but they have a tendency to chip. Slight chips can be polished, but larger chips usually require replacement of the porcelain tooth on the denture. Acrylic resin denture teeth have more resistance to chipping, but they have a tendency to wear down faster than porcelain. If wear adversely affects the appearance or occlusion, the acrylic resin teeth can be replaced. Chips and cracks of the pink acrylic resin portion can usually be repaired without remaking the denture. If any of the above needs to be repaired, this is at extra cost.
10. Speech and taste. Removable dentures cover areas of the jaws and palate that are not normally covered. The presence of acrylic resin, metal or porcelain in these areas require adaption of the tongue and lips for proper speech, which may require a period of time to get used to. A denture ‘click’ can sometimes be heard when the upper and lower denture teeth contact. The acrylic resin and metal of removable dentures may affect the taste of food, especially if the dentures are not properly cleaned.
11. Relines. Are always required periodically as gum and bone may change over time, especially when teeth or roots have been extracted. A reline procedure readapts the pink acrylic resin portion of the denture to the new shape and size of gum tissue. This is at an extra cost.

Other options available to replace missing teeth include implant surgery as well as the option to do nothing.