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From the Dentist's Chair- Dr Z's Blog

Dentures

The first thing to know about dentures is that you shouldn’t expect them to work like regular teeth. They really are two hunks of plastic with tooth-shaped pieces of acrylic or porcelain glued into them. If your healthy, natural teeth function like driving a well-tuned sports car, even the best dentures function like riding a tricycle.

That being said, a custom-fitted pair of complete dentures can serve as a great tool for people who no longer have the use of their natural teeth. It is best to think of them as a tool that takes some learning to use.

An upper complete denture is typically fairly easy for a patient to get accustomed to. The upper prosthesis (or “plate” as some people call it) has the advantage of being supported by the entire palate (roof of the mouth). The denture should have good suction for retention, and it is normally fairly comfortable.

A lower denture is a completely different animal. It relies on a relatively thin, narrow area of bone and gums for its support. The lower denture usually does not have very good suction. The movement of the tongue also serves to reduce the stability of the device. For this reason, we often recommend the addition of at least two implants beneath a lower denture to increase its retention and stability.

More to come….

-dr z

Dental Center of Deerwood

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