Dentures in Calgary

Complete dentures, also called “full dentures”, are used when all of your natural teeth are missing. Complete dentures are removable and are held securely in place using suction. Complete dentures come in two forms: immediate dentures and conventional dentures.

• Immediate dentures are made before your remaining natural teeth are removed. During your first visit, your dentist will take measurements of your mouth and jaws so that they can create an accurate model of your mouth. After your remaining teeth have been extracted your dentist will provide you with immediate dentures. Immediate dentures are a temporary solution that ensures that you are not left without teeth during the healing period while your conventional dentures are being made. It may take as long as 6 months for your mouth to fully heal. During this healing period, your bones and gums may shrink, which means your immediate dentures will need to be relined to ensure they maintain a proper fit.
• Once your conventional dentures are made, and your mouth is fully healed, you can retire your immediate dentures and replace them with your conventional dentures.

If you are having trouble with your dentures, your dentist may suggest overdentures as an alternative. Overdentures are removable dentures that fit over your remaining natural teeth, or over dental implants. If you have some natural teeth left they will need to be filed down and reshaped to accommodate the overdenture. If you do not have any natural teeth left your overdentures will need to be secured using dental implants.

Before you begin, you should place a folded towel in front of you, or fill your sink with water. This will help ensure that your dentures don’t become damaged if you accidentally drop them while cleaning them.
Remove your dentures from your mouth and run them under water to remove any loose food particles. Take care not to hold your dentures too tightly: squeezing your dentures can damage them.

Use a wet denture brush or a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your dentures using a mild soap or denture cleaner. Regular toothpaste and household cleaners are too abrasive, and should never be used to clean your dentures.

Gently brush all of your denture surfaces, paying close attention to clasps and other tight crevices where bacteria can collect. Be careful not to bend your clips or damage any plastic areas. While you are cleaning your dentures, look for cracks. If you find any cracks you should take them to your dentist or denture specialist for repair.

While your dentures are out, you should also clean and massage your gums. If you find that a toothbrush irritates your gums, you can use a finger wrapped in a clean, damp cloth instead.

When you have finished brushing your dentures, you should rinse them thoroughly with clean water before returning them to your mouth. If you have any questions about caring for or cleaning your dentures, you should speak to your dentist.