Full Dentures & Partial Dentures

We offer two types of dentures: full and partial. Our Westchester prosthodontists can help you choose the type of denture that best fits your needs. Our recommendations are based on whether some or all your teeth will be replaced and your budget.

  • Full – Full dental prosthetics are placed in your mouth after we have removed the remaining teeth, and you’ve healed. Healing may take several months. We also offer immediate full dentures. These are inserted immediately after we remove the teeth. But, they must be adjusted several months after being inserted. The reason is that the bone supporting the teeth will reshape as it heals, causing the denture to become loose.
  • Partial  – Partial dental flippers rest on a metal framework that attaches to your natural teeth. Sometimes we place dental crowns on some of your natural teeth that serve as anchors for the denture. Other times, your dentures will have clasps that help them adhere to your teeth for support. Partial dental restorations are a removable alternative to dental bridges.

Although these dental restorations are better than no tooth replacement, their limitations often drive people to consider dental implants.

Implant Dentures

You can overcome many of the limitations of dental restorations by combining them with dental implants. Implant dentures use dental implants to secure or support the denture. You can choose whether you want to have implant-retained dentures or implant-supported dentures.

  • Implant-Retained  – This type of denture uses dental implants to keep it from drifting around the mouth or falling out when you talk, laugh, or sneeze. The denture stability provides some security for you, but most of the denture still rests on the gums, so you only get limited improvement in functionality and comfort. However, these dentures may require as few as two dental implants, making them an economical alternative to solutions that require more implants.
  • Implant-Supported  – These dentures use more dental implants, perhaps four, six, or more. The additional implants allow the denture to distribute the force of biting and chewing directly into the jawbone. This reduces discomfort from eating with dental prosthetics and can give you back your normal chewing ability.

Deciding which type of implant denture is best for you depends on many factors, including your oral health, the presence of bone in your jaw, your budget, and your commitment to future oral hygiene.

Why Choose Us for Dentures?

Getting teeth replacements is a very involved and personal process. In order for you to get dentures that feel and look great, it’s important to find a prosthodontist that can work with your specific needs. Our Westchester prosthodontists, Dr. Steven A Brisman and Dr. Amy Guccione, have many years of experience creating and placing dentures, so you can be sure you are getting quality care.
On top of highly skilled prosthodontists, Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale also has an in-house laboratory that will create custom dental prosthetics to your unique needs. Having an on-site laboratory shortens the creation time and cost, so you can get your permanent dentures quickly.

Ready to learn more? Call us at (914) 725-7100.

The Process

The first step in obtaining your first set of false teeth is having your teeth extracted. Just which teeth are to be extracted and how many will depend on whether you are getting partial dental flippers or full dentures. Your dentist can help you make that decision.

Tooth extractions need a period of time for your gums to heal and also to shrink to their permanent shape. The healing process will vary based on how many teeth were extracted.
After this, the steps for getting dentures are:

  1. Taking an impression of your mouth – After your gums have healed from the extraction (this can take four to six weeks), your dentist will take an impression of your mouth as a guide for making the new dentures.
  2. Selecting your new teeth – The dentist will help you decide which tooth shapes and shades of white you want for your new dental replacements. The purpose is to make the new dentures look as real and natural as possible. We’ll talk to you about options for tooth material, such as ceramic or acrylic.
  3. Initial fitting – After we make the dentures, we will schedule an appointment for the initial fitting. Your dentist will place the restorations in your mouth and make the necessary adjustments to ensure a good, comfortable fit. After the initial fitting, you may need more appointments for adjustments to make sure they fit comfortably.

Of course, your experience with dentures will also depend on how well you wear them and how well you care for them.

Daily Tips for Denture Wearers

Eating and talking with dentures can be a significant learning experience. Here are some tips for adjusting to life as a denture wearer:

  • Choose foods that are easier to chew and swallow, like eggs, fish, cheese, chopped meat, cooked vegetables, and ice cream. Leave those beef jerky strips and mixed nuts alone.
  • Take small bites, chew slowly, and try not to bite down hard with your front teeth. Try to balance food evenly in your mouth when you chew so your dentures remain securely in place.
  • Hot foods will take some getting used to, as your mouth will not be able to sense heat as before.
  • Avoid chewy or hard foods, like caramel and chewing gum.
  • Practice speaking aloud while wearing your new dentures.
  • Read aloud from a book or magazine in front of a mirror.
  • Try biting down and swallowing before you begin to speak. This helps set your dentures in place.

Practice makes perfect. The more time you devote to learning how best to use your dentures, the better your experience will be.

Taking Care of Your Dentures

Keeping your dentures clean and in good shape is important. Proper care is vital to keep them clean, free from stains, and looking their best. For good denture care:

  • Remove and rinse prosthetics after eating. Run water over your dentures to remove food particles. You may want to place a towel on the counter or sink or put water in the sink so the dentures won’t break if you drop them.
  • Handle restorations carefully. Be sure you don’t bend or damage the plastic or the clasps when cleaning.
  • Clean your mouth after removing your dentures. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush on natural teeth, your tongue, cheeks, and the roof of your mouth.
  • Brush your dentures at least daily. Remove and gently clean your dentures daily. Soak and brush them with a soft brush and non-abrasive denture cleanser to remove food, plaque, and other deposits. Rinse dentures thoroughly before putting them back in your mouth.
  • Schedule regular dental checkups. We will recommend how often to visit us to have your dental prosthetics examined and professionally cleaned. We can help ensure a proper fit to prevent slippage and discomfort and also check the inside of your mouth to ensure it’s healthy.
  • Avoid such things as: abrasive cleaning materials, stiff-bristled brushes, strong cleansers, harsh toothpaste, whitening toothpaste, bleach-containing products, and hot or boiling water.

Dentures can last for years when properly cared for, but they will likely need several realignments.

What Is Denture Realignment?

When a patient first gets a set of dentures, they generally fit perfectly; this is because the dentures are crafted and molded to fit the patient’s mouth. As time goes on and we age, the gums and bones that once supported teeth start to degrade.

Bone degradation–also called bone resorption–as well as other factors including illness and aging, can often cause an improper fit of the dentures, and this can start to cause discomfort.
Once this happens, the dentures will need to undergo either a replacement or a realignment. The process of realigning dentures requires surface strengthening and repair with acrylics. Denture realignment is often the best solution to loose and uncomfortable dentures.

What Are the Signs of Ill-Fitting Dentures?

While at one time your dentures would have fit perfectly, you may have noticed some changes recently that may be a cause for concern. One of the things you should have been looking out for is any changes in your speech.

If you think back to when you first had these fitted, you probably struggled with your speech as you got used to the way your dentures felt in your mouth. Of course, as time went on and your dentures settled, your speech adapted to suit.

Where concern should arise is if you notice any difference in your speech, such as a lisp or slurring words. If you find that you are experiencing speech trouble, then you are probably due for a denture reline.

Also, watch for pain in the mouth. If you become accustomed to adjusting your dental appliances frequently as a way of dealing with their poor fit, this can lead to oral sores, and oral sores can be quite nasty. If you are suffering from oral sores, you should contact us immediately, as there is often a risk of infection.

You should be on the lookout for signs of infection like fever, pain, swollen gums, bad breath, and hot/cold sensitivity.

Types of Reline

When it comes to realignment, there are three main types of relining you can have for your dentures, and each one is dependent on the level of tissue degradation:

  • Hard Reline – If you are one of many patients that has full dental restorations, you should be coming to see us for a reline at least every two years or if you notice signs of loose dental prosthetics. By keeping up to date with relines at Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale, you should enjoy brilliantly fitting dentures without the need for a completely new fitting.
  • Soft Reline – If you have reached a point where you can no longer wear your dentures because your gums are just too tender, the best thing we can offer you is a soft reline. If you require a soft reline, one of our dentists can reduce your discomfort by applying a waxy or rubber-like material to the dentures that will enable a comfortable and great fit once again.
  • Temporary Reline – If it’s been some time since you last had a service on your dental restorations, you may be suffering from very tender and sore gums. If this is the case, you will more than likely require a temporary reline.

If you haven’t seen your denture dentist in some time, then a soft or hard reline just won’t be sufficient to fix your discomfort and eradicate the problem. You might need to replace your dentures.

Get Dentures in Westchester County Today!

At Advanced Dentistry of Scarsdale, we pride ourselves on putting our patients first and finding the individualized plan that suits them. We will work with you before you make this important and life-changing decision to get dentures. We will walk you through the process and the benefits or risks it has for you. Schedule an appointment today by calling (914) 725-7100 to see how our dentures can change your life.