Replacing missing teeth
Dentures and Prosthetics
Full and partial dentures, bridges and other replacements, fitted and then adjusted until they are actually comfortable to eat with.
The options
A full denture replaces all the teeth in one jaw and rests on the gum and bone underneath. A partial denture replaces some teeth and clasps onto the remaining ones for support. A bridge is fixed rather than removable: it spans a gap and is cemented onto the teeth either side, which have to be prepared to carry it.
Which one suits depends on how many teeth are missing, where they are, how healthy the remaining teeth and gums are, and how much bone is left. A lower full denture is harder to keep stable than an upper one, because there is less surface for it to hold onto and the tongue moves underneath it. Implants can be used to anchor a denture where stability is the main problem.
At the appointment
Making a denture is a sequence rather than a single visit. Impressions are taken, then a more accurate second impression, then a bite registration to record how the jaws meet, then a trial fitting in wax so the position, shape and shade of the teeth can be checked and changed before anything is finalised. The finished denture is fitted last.
Say what you think at the trial stage. It is far easier to change the shade or the position of a front tooth in wax than after the denture is processed. Bring a photograph of your own teeth from before if you have one, because that is the most useful reference there is.
Visits, Recovery and When to Call
Visits and timing
A full or partial denture usually takes several appointments spread over a number of weeks, with laboratory work between each. A bridge is normally two visits, one to prepare the supporting teeth and take an impression, one to fit.
Afterwards
Expect adjustment appointments. A new denture almost always rubs somewhere and the sore spots have to be relieved, which is a normal part of the process rather than a sign of a bad fit. Speech and eating take practice. Start with soft food cut small and chew on both sides at once.
Call sooner if
A sore spot is not settling, the denture has become loose when it used to fit, it cracks, or a clasp bends or breaks. Do not adjust a denture yourself with a file or glue, because it changes the fit permanently and can turn a repair into a remake.
Looking after them
Clean dentures daily over a basin of water so a drop does not break them, using a brush and soap or a denture cleaner rather than regular toothpaste, which is abrasive enough to scratch the surface. Leave them out at night unless you have been told otherwise, so the tissue underneath gets a rest. Gums and bone change shape over the years, so a denture that fitted well will eventually need relining or replacing.
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Questions About Dentures and Prosthetics?
Describe the problem on the phone. That conversation is usually enough to work out the first appointment. Mandarin, Taiwanese, English and Japanese are spoken.