What are Full Dentures?
Full dentures are a way of replacing an entire arch of upper or lower teeth and are removable.In the past it was immediately obvious if someone was wearing a set of dentures, but nowadays modern materials and denture teeth can look incredibly natural. This is especially true if you choose our top-quality teeth that are made by Ivoclar in Liechtenstein Dentures are an efficient and cost-effective way of replacing teeth in a relatively short timeframe. However their construction will require several visits to our Leeds dental surgery.
The Procedure for Having a Set of Full Dentures
The first step is to remove any existing teeth you may have, and many of our patients fear we are going to leave them without any means of eating or speaking. In fact we will provide you with an immediate denture which is merely a temporary measure to allow your gums to heal sufficiently, enabling us to construct a proper denture. This healing process is necessary, as your gums will change shape during this time.
Once your gums have healed then we’ll begin by taking an impression of your mouth. The impression is sent to our laboratory so they can fabricate a special tray. This is very similar to an impression tray, but is designed to fit your mouth more accurately, and is used to take a second impression.
This impression is used to make a model of your mouth, and the dental laboratory will construct a set of wax rims. Dr David Brown, or another of our dentists here at Leeds City Dentalcare use these rims to records a precise set of measurements in your mouth.
These will be used by the dental laboratory to make sure your new denture has the correct dimensions so it is both natural looking and functional. They will begin by making your denture out of wax, but using the actual denture teeth. The beauty of this is that it allows any minor adjustments to be made very easily. This wax try-in is sent back to Leeds City Dentalcare so both you and your dentist can see how the denture will look. Sometimes it may be necessary for the denture to be sent back to the laboratory for some adjustments. Once you are happy with the appearance, and the way the denture feels then it’ll be returned to the laboratory for processing in acrylic.
The final step is to have your denture in Leeds fitted. If this is your first full denture then it’ll probably feel pretty strange initially, and you need to be prepared to spend a little bit of time getting used to it. It’s likely it will require some minor adjustments to make it fit perfectly, and we may request you return to our Leeds surgery a few days after your fitting.
At first you may find it quite difficult to eat and speak, and many people find it helpful to stick to eating soft foods for the first few days, and to practice chewing on both sides at once as this helps keep the denture more stable. In a surprisingly short while they should feel just like your own teeth, and a well-made denture can help create a more youthful appearance. It’s still important to schedule regular checkups with our dentist Leeds, even if you don’t have any teeth remaining as will still want to screen you for any other signs of disease. You should bring your denture with you at every appointment so we can check the fit and function. Dentures generally need replacing every 3 to 6 years as the shape of your gums will gradually change over this period.
Dr. David S Brown
David is principal dentist & clinical director of Leeds City Dentalcare. Having graduated at Leeds University & at the Royal College of Surgeons, London, he joined the practice in 1990 & took over as principal in 1992. He has a passion for ensuring that we are equipped with the very latest & finest equipment available securing our place as one of the best equipped practices in Yorkshire.
