DENTURES

Furniss Family Dentistry
Dr. Joshua K. Furniss, D.D.S

Dentures are a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed and put back into your mouth as you please. Depending on each individual patient case, you may receive full or partial dentures. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are removed from the mouth. There are two types of full dentures.

This is when all the teeth are removed and the tissue is given time to heal before the final dentures are placed. It takes 3-6 months for gum tissue to heal completely and for bone to remodel so we usually make a temporary denture for you, otherwise you would have to go without teeth for this period of time.

Prior to having your teeth removed, Dr. Furniss takes measurements and has dentures fitted for your mouth. After removing the teeth, the dentures are immediately placed in your mouth. The benefit is that you do not have to spend any time without teeth. You will, however, need to have follow-up visits to adjust your dentures because the jaw bone will slightly change shape as your mouth heals. After your mouth heals and the bone remodels a bit then Dr. Furniss can take a new impression and make your final denture. This final denture is made with more expensive materials and will fit much better than the temporary or immediate denture.

Partial dentures are another option when you are missing only a few of your teeth. This is similar to a bridge, but it is not a permanent fixture in your mouth.

Your dentures may take some time to get used to. The flesh colored base of the dentures is placed over your gums. Some people say that it feels bulky or that they don’t have enough room for their tongue. Other times the dentures might feel loose. These feelings will affect the way you eat and talk for a little while. Over time, your mouth becomes trained to eat and speak with your dentures and they begin to feel more and more like your natural teeth. They may never feel perfectly comfortable, but it is much better than the alternative of not having teeth.

Even though dentures are not real teeth, you should care for them like they are. You should brush them (without toothpaste) to remove plaque and food particles before removing your dentures. After they have been removed you should place them directly into room temperature water or a denture cleaning solution. Never use hot water because it could warp the dentures. Your dentures are delicate, so make sure you are careful when handling them so you don’t drop them. Also, never try to adjust your dentures yourself. You could ruin them, so you should always seek assistance from Dr. Furniss if they feel uncomfortable or loose.