Ask the Denture Expert

Q: My teeth are very bad I need to get them pulled but I can’t go to work without teeth and I can’t take too many days off. What can I do?

A:  It is a very common concern for lot of people today as they need to have their teeth extracted but it is embarrassing for them to go without teeth and for this reason they keep on delaying the extractions and some time go through lot of pain and discomfort from dental infections.  But you don’t need to worry as there is a solution- and that solution is Surgical or Immediate dentures. Surgical dentures are the dentures that are started when you still have your natural teeth and are fabricated before you go to get your teeth extracted.  Your dentist extracts your teeth and put those dentures in your mouth immediately after the extraction and that’s why they are commonly called as Immediate dentures. These dentures will save you from the embarrassment of going out in public with no teeth and you can continue your social life without interruption.  Immediate dentures, however, have their own advantages and disadvantages.  Some of the advantages of immediate dentures are- you have dentures in your mouth immediately after extractions which not only helps to maintain esthetics but also helps to stop the bleeding and prevents the food particles from getting into open extraction sockets by covering them, the size and shape of your natural teeth can be used as a reference to find a close match, and some people find the transition from natural to artificial teeth easier with immediate dentures.  The main disadvantages of these dentures are that- the fitting is based on approximated shape of gums assuming how your gums will be after extractions, therefore fitting may not be very precise, sometimes jaw and bone structure can get in the way of desired esthetic results and appearance can not be checked or verified beforehand either, and frequent adjustments are needed.  After extraction of natural teeth, normally the gums shrink a lot as they heel and therefore most dentures may require some relines to keep them fitted well.  Your denturist can explain more to you after evaluating your individual case.

October 2011 Article

There are lots of questions that people generally ask us about dentures. We would like to answer those questions in this article so if others have same questions in their minds then they could get the answers.

Q: How often should I replace my dentures?

A: Our oral tissues are always changing and therefore dentures don’t fit the same way as they did when they were made. Besides those tissue changes denture base materials and teeth are subject to normal wear and tear resulting in uneven pressure when biting, difficulty in chewing, sore-mouth and collapsed facial appearance etc. Relines can be done to fill the tissue-side of dentures to compensate for gum shrinkage and to make them tighter but the wear on the teeth can only be corrected by replacing them. Time period to get reline or replacement can vary from person to person depending on various factors but, in general, relines are suggested about every two years whereas denture replacement is recommended every five years.

Q:  How do I know if I need relines or new dentures?

A: Usually if you notice that your dentures are loose, they move easily, food gets underneath them, you get sores but they still chew well and denture base is in good condition then reline may be required but if dentures are old, teeth are worn and don’t chew well then it may be time to replace them.  The best way to find out what is needed is to see a professional, such as your denturist, to have proper checkup and evaluation of your dentures and to have the required work done.

Q: What is a Reline?

A: Reline is the process of taking impression of your gum tissues and to fill inside of your denture to that new impression or measurement so that it fits your mouth better.   Reline can make your denture fit tighter and more stable on your gums.

September 2011 Article

Tooth loss is a very common problem and millions of people in North America wear dentures. Tooth loss can affect people in many ways causing physical, mental, emotional and social stress. With the loss of their natural teeth, people not only loose their ability to chew properly but also loose facial muscle support which can affect their smile and appearance significantly, their speech may not be very clear and, therefore, they may feel embarrassed to talk or even to go out in public. Improperly chewed food can cause digestive and other health problems and may result in a great deal of stress for them.  Even the people who have dentures but their dentures are ill-fitting and worn may experience the same problems.  Dentures are very important part of our overall health and a quite large part of our population wears dentures but still dentures get neglected very commonly.

Dentures can very easily replace one or more of the missing teeth and can improve your speech and chewing ability. They can greatly enhance your smile and appearance by providing adequate facial support and by giving you the proper shape and size of the teeth that matches best with your unique face and personality. A great smile can boost your self-confidence to a much higher level and you feel happy and more comfortable socializing.

Denturists are the professionals who are trained to custom-fit your denture based on your sole requirements.  They can give you that “personalized” look of yours that will keep you smiling.  However, finding a good denturist who understands your needs and who can provide excellent care and service is important.  Talk to your denturist openly on what you want and ask if he/she can deliver that.  So don’t wait any longer if you have any missing teeth and see a professional today.

If you have any questions for us, please mail or email those to us and we will be happy to answer them for you.

August 2011 Article

Hello Readers!

You are reading the first edition of Calgary’s “Ask the Expert” paper and I am happy to be a part of it because it not only gives you opportunity to get to know professionals and experts in your area but also provides you lot of valuable information. I would like to start with my own introduction: my name is Preet Grewal and I am a denturist practicing at Beddington Denture Centre in Calgary. I have been practicing in this field for over fifteen years now. Our commitments to provide best service and care to our clients and high work ethics have helped us become successful. At our clinic we do basically all type of denture work such as making new full or partial dentures, making dentures over implants, denture repairs for broken dentures, denture relines to tighten loose dentures, soft relines, denture adjustments for painful and irritating dentures etc. We also make trays for home tooth-whitening and make sports mouthguards for players. Our readers who are over sixty five years of age may even qualify to get free denture as Alberta Health Care may pay for them. If you need any of our services, we encourage you to come in for a complimentary consultation. We are located in Beddington Co-op mall.

If you have any denture problems or if you are considering new dentures then do not hesitate, we are only a phone call away. In future issues of this paper, we will try to give you information on various denture related problems and concerns. If you have any questions that you would like us to answer then feel free to send your questions to us.