Frequently Asked Dentures & Partials Questions
Who is a candidate for dentures?
If you are missing a few teeth to most or all of your teeth your might be a candidate for dentures & partials. You need to discuss your situation with a qualified and experienced dentist, such as Dr. Elenbaas.
What are dentures & partials?
Dentures are removable replacements for your missing teeth. They fit in your mouth over your gums and are made from acrylic resin. Sometimes they have metal parts to them as well. If you get a complete denture it will replace all of your upper or lower teeth. If you get a partial denture it will replace some of your missing teeth and keep your remaining teeth from moving around.
What types of dentures are there?
There are two basic types of dentures: conventional or immediate. Conventional dentures are given to you after your mouth has had a chance to properly heal, usually for about a month. Immediate dentures, by contrast, are fitted to your gums immediately after your remaining teeth have been extracted. The only problem with immediate dentures is that you may have to get them adjusted after your mouth has completely healed.
Dr. Elenbaas can recommend the right type of dentures for your individual case.
How do I care for my new dentures or partials?
Your new dentures are fragile appliances, so you need to carefully handle them. Remove your dentures or partials daily and clean them carefully with a specially designed denture brush and a denture cleanser or toothpaste.
Make sure you don't ever use something abrasive on your dentures since such cleaners may scratch your dentures and partials. Also, make sure you don't ever boil your dentures because they may become warped from the high heat.
If you have partial dentures, removed them before brushing the rest of your teeth.
Soak your dentures in a denture cleanser or water. Keep your dentures or partial dentures in the same place every night or during brushing and cleaning your mouth, so you don't end up misplacing them.
Are there alternatives to dentures & partials?
The biggest alternative to dentures & partials is implant dentistry, because instead of simply placing your replacement teeth on top of your gum tissue, the implants are implanted directly into your jawbone thereby anchoring them down just like your natural teeth. If you are interested in dental implants, please contact Beach View Dental for a consultation.
If you would like to learn more about reconstructive dentistry in general, or dentures & partials in particular, please contact us today. We are happy to serve patients throughout the Gulfport, Biloxi, and Pascagoula, Mississippi area.