Ask the Denture Expert

May 2012 Article

ARE YOUR DENTURES LOOSE?

THINK IMPLANTS!

Conventional removable full dentures rest on the gums by suction and they often do not provide adequate stability for efficient chewing or speaking. In the absence of the jawbone stimulation that was previously provided by your natural teeth, the bone resorbs (shrinks) and the denture becomes loose. This can result in a whole range of functional difficulties and may cause physiological problems such as loosening of your denture, pain and discomfort, poor nutrition affecting your overall health, changes in your facial appearance, reduced self-esteem. Self- confidence and quality of life. Are you interested in a solution to these and other problems? Dentures that snap onto dental implants and will more closely resemble the feel of natural teeth?

Implants are basically artificial roots to which your denture is affixed, once again making chewing easy and comfortable again. Installed by a surgeon trained in implant procedures, a few implants will serve as anchors for your prosthesis providing all the stability you will need.

WHAT IS A DENTAL IMPLANT?

A DENTAL IMPLANT IS A SMALL SCREW MADE OF TITANIUM, WHICH IS A METAL THAT THE BODY EASILY ACCEPTS. It is designed to replace the missing tooth root and to provide a stable foundation for replacement teeth. Dental implants are placed into the jawbone. Over a relatively short period of time the bone grows around the dental implant, establishing a solid anchor for replacement teeth. Following the healing time which can take as little a six weeks, a denture can be firmly secured in your mouth.

The number of implants required for the restoration of your edentulous jaw depends on the chosen treatment option and the clinical situation and can range from two to eight or more implants.

THE BENEFITS OF IMPLANT BASED DENTURE

Implant based dentures provide for long lasting comfortable and stable replacements, restore your natural ability to chew, help you preserve the jawbone thereby maintaining the integrity of your facial structure , can improve your health by allowing for normal eating habits and better digestion, eliminate the pain caused by ill-fitting dentures, can improve your speech, and increase your self-confidence and zest for life

April 2012 Article

Does the sound of snoring or sudden gasps for air throughout the night keep you awake? Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can be a life threatening medical condition that deprives you of the restful sleep you need for a better day tomorrow.

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends the use of oral appliances for primary snoring and those with mild to moderate OSA. Supplementary research shows that oral appliances can now be used in patients with a lesser degree of oxygen saturation, relatively less day time sleepiness, lower frequency of apnea, those who are intolerant to CPAP, or those who refuse surgery.

At The Denture and Implant Centre Inc. we don’t just pride ourselves on our Dentures and Denture Services, we also work with a device called the SUAD Device to give those the quality of sleep they are often deprived of.

The SUAD device is a premium dental sleep appliance developed for the treatment of snoring and all levels of obstructive sleep apnea. It is an effective, comfortable, and durable alternative to CPAP therapy or corrective surgery. Compared to the CPAP Machine, the SUAD is quiet, small, discrete, and convenient. You are not limited to any sleep position. There are no hose attachments to get tangled up in, and your ability to speak, drink, get up, and take oral medications while in use allows for no interruption.

In conjunction with the SUAD Device we also offer the Temporary SUAD Appliance (TSA). The TSA is a clinically proven, FDA cleared, temporary dental sleep appliance for the effective treatment of snoring and OSA. It is designed to mimic the SUAD device in terms of design and performance offering a affordable alternative for first time patients.

If you are someone, or know someone, who suffers from snoring or OSA, please call us at The Denture & Implant Centre Inc. 403-343-7266 and book in for a no charge consultation to learn more about how a SUAD Device can benefit you.

March 2012 Article

Greetings,

This month I would like to talk about something no one likes to talk about, Oral Cancer. Oral Cancer is “the 13th most common cancer” (of the 23 reported types of cancer).

As quoted by Health Canada back in 2009, “the number of new cases and death due to oral cancer is predicted to be almost three times higher than that of cervical cancer and almost double the rates of liver cancer. Oral cancers are also predicted to have higher numbers of new cases and deaths than stomach, brain and ovary cancers”.

There are a number of risk factors associated with oral cancer. I’ve listed a few of them here.

• Age

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Gender

• Diet

• Sun exposure

The good news is we now have available in our office the “VELscope Vx” for the early detection of abnormal oral mucosal tissue, including oral cancer.

What is the “VELscope Vx”? Well Velscope Vx is a special light instrument that uses blue light. This blue light stimulates natural fluorescence in the soft tissues of the mouth. Natural fluorescence, seen through the VELscope Vx, allows the denturist/ dental professional to see disease not visible with the naked eye. The VELscope Vx is used to detect oral disease before it can be seen under ordinary light. As with all cancers… EARLY DETECTION is the key. Oral cancer can be successfully treated if caught in the early stages.

To put your mind at ease please call our office today to book your personal screening.

It is a short appointment that could save your life!

Michael S. Galye and Team

The Denture & Implant Centre

403-343-7266

February 2012 Article

Why do dentures need to be replaced?

Some common denture problems you might be experiencing:

• Headaches, ear aches

• Neck pain

• Denture won’t stay in place when you eat or talk

• Extra wrinkles around your mouth

• Sore spots

• Need to use denture pads or adhesives

Did you know that people with no natural teeth lose on average 1/2mm of jawbone height each year?

Loss can be greater due to some medical conditions, such as osteoporosis.

Gum tissue (ridges) shrink along with your jawbone up to ¼” in a 10 year period this is what makes your dentures loose.

Denture pads and adhesives can temporarily stabilize your dentures. But should not be considered a long term fix.

If your denture is a couple of years old you may benefit from a soft reline or a standard hard reline.

Relines are solutions for “younger” dentures (5 years old or less), and will not necessarily provide additional face and lip support.

The ADA recommends that you replace your dentures every 5 years. Many people are under the impression that a set of dentures will last for 20 years or more. This is simply not true. The denture being made out of a hard rigid material does not adapt to the ever changing tissue and bone loss in your mouth.

Also studies have proven that after time bacteria and other viruses live on and in the acrylic of your denture and can start to have a negative effect on your overall health.

So, if it’s been 5 years or more since you had your dentures checked and you are experiencing any of the above symptoms please contact our office for a FREE CONSULTATION, at 403-343-7266.

Michael Galye and team

January 2012 Article

Good Day,

This month let’s talk about a fresh, healthy mouth and a beautiful White smile.

Some people are under the misconception that just because they have dentures they no longer need to take care of their Oral Health. This is just not true.

You need to gently brush your dentures after every meal. This helps keep any food particles from getting under them and irritating the gums as well as helping keep your mouth fresh and your denture free of stains. Brushing the gums gently everyday helps stimulate blood flow, keeping the gums and oral mucosa healthy. You should also brush your tongue everyday for a fresh odor free mouth.

In conjunction with brushing your dentures it is important to soak them in an approved denture cleaner. We recommend “Renew” a professional strength denture cleaner available at our office. This should be done for a maximum of 20 minutes 3 or 4 days a week. For stubborn stains you may need to soak them a little longer or more frequently. Before rinsing your dentures make sure you fill the sink with water or line it with a hand towel to soften the sink in the event you accidentally drop your denture while rinsing it. Always rinse your denture under warm running water this ensures removing all the cleaning solution before inserting the denture back into your mouth.

Another aspect of a beautiful smile is white teeth. You always notice someone’s smile that is bright and white. If you have natural teeth and if your smile has faded due to genetics, poor oral hygiene, aging, smoking, eating and drinking we can help you achieve “that smile” again. We offer in office whitening. The Sapphire professional whitening system takes about an hour, and has been clinically proven to whiten teeth up to 7 – 12 shades and has been formulated to prevent sensitivity with the “Sapphire Desensitizing Tooth Shield”.

If you have any questions regarding the care of your dentures or about Sapphire Whitening please do not hesitate to contact our office at 403-343-7266 and we would be more than happy to answer all your questions.

Michael S. Galye DD and Team

December 2011 Article

Greetings,

This month I would like to talk about something no one likes to talk about, Oral Cancer. Oral Cancer is “the 13th most common cancer” (of the 23 reported types of cancer).

There are a number of risk factors associated with oral cancer. I’ve listed a few of them here.

• Age

• Smoking

• Alcohol

• Gender

• Diet

• Sun exposure

The good news is we now have available in our office the “VELscope Vx” for the early detection of abnormal oral mucosal tissue, including oral cancer.

To put your mind at ease please call our office today to book your personal screening.

It is a short appointment that could save your life!

Michael S. Galye and Team

The Denture & Implant Centre

403-343-7266

November 2011 Article

October 2011 Article

September 2011 Article

I have been a denturist in the Red Deer area for 15 years. I have practiced in Lacombe, Coronation, and now in Red Deer. I have two existing practices: The Denture Centre which was formerly in the Bower mall, and Village Denture Clinic which was in the Village Mall. As of 2008 we amalgamated both of these practices into one location which is now The Denture & Implant Centre Inc.

We have also been providing implant retained dentures to the public for 10 years. This is where we work in relationship with some local dentists. They place the implants, and I restore a new or existing denture to fit into the patients mouth. This provides the patient with a secure fit and confidence to eat foods they never imagined.

At the practice we specialize in the fabrication of removable prosthetic appliances. We provide a variety of products to our patients: complete and partial dentures, relining and repairing of existing dentures, and immediate dentures.

At the Denture & Implant Centre we work very hard to set our practice as a professional leader. We work with new advanced denture techniques, and have our own in house dental lab and full time dental technician, Doug Flannery.

I am a certified denturist and graduated from NAIT in 1992. I have always advanced in continuing education for our practice and am still continuing to grow and advance with the highest standards of care.

We pride ourselves on using the highest quality materials in the fabrication of our dentures. Patients are greeted by Krista Baker in our warm and family friendly atmosphere.

Red Deer

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