When you are missing an entire row of teeth (top, bottom or both), Dr. Emmanuel Puddicombe may recommend dentures as the most convenient form of replacement. These removable prosthetics are custom designed to fit the unique contours of your mouth. Because modern-day denture options look more authentic and fit more snugly than previous iterations, they are quite popular with those looking to restore their mouths.
Benefits of Dentures
Given that dentures resemble a set of real, healthy teeth inside your mouth, you will be able to smile without any hesitation. They should also help to keep your face more beautiful.
Dentures also improve the functionality of your mouth. Missing teeth can make it much more difficult to eat and speak. With dentures, you should ultimately find it significantly easier to do both of those things, though admittedly it may take a slight adjustment period for you to relearn how to confidently bite and enunciate with your new set of teeth.
How to Get Dentures
The first step is to meet with Dr. Puddicombe and have him examine your mouth. He will take x-rays of your mouth to look at the existing teeth in your mouth — if there is a sufficient number of them that can be saved, he may suggest an alternative solution including dental bridges and/or dental implants. However, if dentures do seem like the best plan, he will make a plan to remove any remaining infected teeth.
Denture Process Details
After that, Dr. Puddicombe will take a mold of your mouth. This mold will be sent to a special laboratory that will create your customized dentures from resin material. You will have the opportunity to choose the size as well as the shade of the teeth that will be included with the dentures.
When the completed dentures come back from the lab, Dr. Puddicombe will invite you back to Family Dentistry of Lyons to try them on and make sure that they fit correctly. He will pay special attention to whether they allow for a natural biting motion and listen for any unwanted clicking sounds that come from dentures that are not a great fit.
Caring for Dentures
Most sets of dentures have a lifespan of about five to 10 years before they need to be replaced. With proper care, you will be more likely to get additional years out of your dentures.
Each day, you should brush and rinse your dentures. A gentle soap or denture cleaner is usually sufficient for keeping your dentures clean and fresh. Just be sure to skip the toothpaste, since it is generally too abrasive for the dentures and can erode the resin over time. Eroded dentures can form crevices where food particles and plaque will subsequently accumulate.
At any point when your dentures are not in your mouth, you should soak them in cold or room temperature water so that they hold their intended shape. Be aware that putting them in hot water can cause them to warp and no longer fit properly in your mouth.
Schedule a Denture Appointment
Dr. Puddicombe finds it rewarding to help patients in need of a smile transformation obtain new, natural-looking teeth. To start the process of obtaining dentures with a caring, professional dentist please call Family Dentistry of Lyons at (315) 946-4656.
