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Dentures

You’ve most likely heard about dentures before, right? A denture is a removable artificial appliance made to replace missing teeth and their surrounding tissues, to restore your beautiful smile. If you’ve lost all your natural teeth from an injury, tooth decay, or gum disease, a brand new set of dentures will not only benefit your appearance but your health as well. When you lose teeth, your facial muscles can gradually sag and make you look older than your actual age.

Dentures help fill out your face and mouth again, preserving and often improving your profile. Most are custom-made for each’s mouth, resembling your natural teeth as closely as possible. We take great care at The Elmwood Dental Group LLC to ensure that your new smile fits you perfectly. Whether you’ve already had dentures, know someone who does, or are considering getting your first set, you probably have many questions about them. That’s where we come in!

Rest assured, your fresh smile is in good hands. For any questions about the process of having dentures applied or scheduling an appointment, please call us at (860) 331-8748.

What Are Dentures Made Of?

In the past, artificial teeth were constructed from porcelain or plastic, but most modern dentures are made of a hard resin (The gums are made from similar material). The ingredients used in making dentures are more fragile than natural teeth though and will more easily wear out, chip or crack if not properly cared for. Even if you keep your dentures in excellent shape, they’ll still need to be replaced every five years or so.

Types of Dentures

There are two main types of dentures: Complete and partial. First, let’s go over Complete types:

•	Conventional- Fully removable, constructed and placed into your mouth after remaining natural teeth are removed and the tissues heal (This may take up to several months, during which time, you must live without teeth)
•	Immediate- This removable denture is placed inside your mouth on the same day the remaining teeth are extracted. During your preliminary visit, Dr. Gomes or Dr. Patel will take measurements and make models of your jaw. You do not have to be without teeth during this healing process, though your bones and gums will shrink over time. Your dentures may have to be remade or relined after your jaw has recovered, to fit into the mouth properly. It is because of this disadvantage that patients often use immediate dentures as a temporary solution, at least until permanent replacements can be made.
•	Overdenture- An alternative for when/if standard dentures are too uncomfortable or you have a few natural teeth left. Overdentures are fitted over the natural teeth’s roots and rest either on them or on dental implants (if no natural teeth remain to fit over). This is easier to remove.

Next, we shall explain the Partial types of dentures:

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Partial- A removable partial denture or bridge typically consists of artificial teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which are sometimes connected by a metal framework holding the dentures in place within your mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in your upper or lower jaw. A fixed bridge replaces one or multiple teeth with crowns applied on them, on either side of the space, and attaching replacement teeth to them. Afterward, the bridge is cemented into position. This partial denture both replace lost teeth and prevents others from changing their current position.

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Precision partial- This is removable and has internal attachments instead of clasps, which attach to adjacent crowns. These dentures make for a more natural look.

How Do Dentures Feel?

Your new set of dentures may feel awkward for the first few weeks until you get used to them, perhaps feeling loose while your cheek muscles and tongue adjust to keeping them in place. Minor irritation or soreness is quite common, and a temporary increase in saliva flow is normal. Over time, these problems should go away on their own. Nonetheless, follow-up appointments with us are important so we can check if any corrections may be required.

If you or a loved one are considering getting dentures, looking to replace your current set, or have further questions, call The Elmwood Dental Group LLC now to schedule a visit.

At The Elmwood Dental Group LLC, our office is both parking and wheel chair accessible.

Locate Us
1132 New Britain Ave
West Hartford, CT 06110-2421

Located 5 minutes from Blue Back Square & Westfarms Mall

Call Us
(860) 331-8748

Office Hours

Mon: 7:30am to 4:30pm
Tue: 7:00am to 6:00pm
Wed: 7:00am to 4:00pm
Thu: 7:00am to 5:00pm
Fri: 7:00am to 4:00pm
Saturday by appointment