Dentures

As your local dental clinic in Geelong, we offer a range of denture solutions to meet individual patient requirements. At Geelong West Dental, our experienced team of dentists will take the time to understand your needs and conduct a thorough assessment before advising the appropriate denture option. We strive to provide our patients with a personalised dental care in a welcoming environment.

What Are Dentures?

Known as removable teeth or plates, dentures are used to replace missing teeth. As part of this treatment, your dentist will take impressions and bite records as part of the process of making a set of dentures tailored to your teeth and gums, focusing on functionality and comfort.

What Are The Different Types Of Dentures?

Full dentures are prescribed for patients who are missing all of their teeth, whereas partial dentures are for patients who have a few missing teeth. 

Immediate dentures  are custom-made and inserted immediately after teeth extraction. This way, you will have teeth while the gums and bone heal, be it complete or partial. Immediate dentures may require periodical adjustment or relining for comfort and retention after the healing period as bones and gums shrink.

Conventional dentures are made following the healing period, as gums shrink and bone remodels after removal of teeth. 

Full dentures

Full dentures are an alternative replacement of all missing teeth. The base of a full denture consists of a pink acrylic that rests on the gums and is moulded to fit around the jaw arches. The upper set covers the palate or roof of the mouth while the lower set is horseshoe-shaped to allow sufficient space for the tongue.

Partial dentures

Patients may be suitable for partial dentures if they have a few missing teeth. This procedure has one or more prosthetic teeth that are connected to a plastic base or acrylic with a metal framework and is fitted around the remaining natural teeth to fill in any gaps in the mouth.

How Do I Know If I Need Dentures?

Dentures can be suitable removable replacement options whether you have lost one tooth or multiple. The loss of one tooth may affect surrounding teeth, including drifting and supraeruption of adjacent and opposing teeth, and increase surface areas of teeth needed to be cleaned, leading to increased risk of dental decay. Dentures may limit the risk of drifting and supraeruption of your remaining teeth.

When you lose more than one tooth, your facial muscles adapt to the missing spaces, which may alter the facial profile. Depending on cases, the acrylic flanges of the denture bases may support your lip and facial muscles, and act as replacement of your missing teeth to allow chewing.

What To Expect When Getting Dentures?

The number of appointments needed to fabricate dentures varies between each patient. If the teeth extractions are indicated, then the healing time may extend the length of the process. However, patients may have the option of immediate dentures that may be fitted in straight after the removal of teeth.

1. The first step includes an examination of the patient’s teeth to evaluate the state of their oral health. During this process, the dentist would examine for signs of tooth decay, infection as that may impede denture placements and determine if any other teeth may need extraction.

2. When ready to get started with dentures, your dentist will take impressions of your teeth, measurements, and bite records with a mould to ensure fit and comfort. The colour of the teeth will also be recorded. These may take one to two visits to ensure fit.

3. Depending on the type of denture made, you will be brought in for a try in. Any adjustments to the shade of teeth, fit, and shape of the dentures will occur.

4. At the final appointment, your custom made dentures will be ready for you.

Dentures Home Care

Following a day’s use, store your dentures in a clean container through the night. During the day, make sure to rinse your mouth and the dentures before putting them back on. Proper care may prolong the lifespan of the dentures. Denture replacement may be indicated as with time, your mouth undergoes changes in shape and structure due to the loss of natural teeth as well as wear and tear from the use of the denture.

What Are The Alternatives To Dentures?

Below we have listed other fixed teeth replacement options available at Geelong West Dental.

Single Dental Implant is opted when one tooth is missing, and is implanted to the jawbone.

Multiple Teeth Implants are opted when there is multiple missing teeth in a stretch. These implants may include implants supported bridges, whereby the implants will integrate the jawbone.

Implant Supported Full Denture combines both dentures and implants procedures, where the implants will be integrated into the jawbone.

All Teeth On 4 Dental Implants replaces the entire upper or lower set of teeth, where all teeth are being supported and fixed onto four dental implants. 

Procedural process, recovery and risk assessments are available in each section of the above alternatives.

If you are looking for dentures in Geelong, call Geelong West Dental. Our team of dental professionals are prepared to guide you through the denture fitting procedures and aftercare process, while prioritising patient comfort.

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