Full & Partial Dentures in Cibolo
At Cibolo Family Smiles, Dr. Niraj Patel offers expert restorative dentistry services in Cibolo and Schertz, including both partial and full dentures. If you’ve lost one or more of your natural teeth, our team is here to help. Contact us online to schedule a consultation, and see if dentures are right for you.
Comparing Partial Vs. Full Dentures
The two primary types of dentures are partial and full dentures. Partial dentures are meant to replace one or more missing teeth. They’re made out of false teeth that are connected to a metal and plastic framework. This framework clips onto your remaining natural teeth, which locks the dentures in place and ensures they don’t move.
Full dentures are different. They require the removal of all of your remaining healthy teeth, and are meant to replace the upper, lower, or both rows of teeth. A full denture consists of a full row of false teeth. These teeth are held in place in a gum-colored acrylic base, which fits over your gums and is held in place by friction, restoring your smile.
The Denture Fitting & Placement Process
Once Dr. Patel determines that dentures are right for you, you may first need to have surgeries to prepare your mouth for dentures, such as extractions to remove any remaining unhealthy teeth, or alveoloplasty (ridge smoothing) to ensure the dentures fit properly.
After any necessary surgeries, you’ll come in for your initial fitting. Dr. Patel will take molds and impressions of your teeth and/or gums, and use this information to create a bite mold. He will take a variety of measurements to understand how your teeth and/or gums fit together.
This information will be sent to a dental lab, where a set of test dentures will be made out of wax. It will usually take a week or two to get your initial set of test dentures. Once they arrive at Cibolo Family Smiles, you’ll come back to try them on, and Dr. Patel will see how they fit.
Then, Dr. Patel will make adjustments to the wax test dentures and send them back to the lab. This fitting process may be repeated several times until your dentures fit perfectly. Once the fit is right, Dr. Patel will have the lab build your final set of dentures.
Then, you’ll come in for one last appointment to pick them up. Dr. Patel will show you how to wear and care for your dentures properly, and you’ll be sent home to enjoy your new smile.
The Benefits Of Dentures
Dentures are the most affordable way to replace missing teeth. Not only that, but they are typically covered by dental insurance up to any applicable limits placed on your policy, which makes them an even better option if you’re on a tight budget.
In addition to this, dentures allow you to eliminate the oral health issues associated with missing teeth. You’ll be able to bite and chew properly, smile proudly, and speak clearly. With a new set of dentures from Cibolo Family Smiles, you’ll be able to get back to your normal day-to-day routine, and treat the most serious side effects of tooth loss.
Am I A Candidate For Dentures?
If you’re missing one or more teeth in Cibolo, dentures may be a viable option for replacing your teeth, restoring your smile, and preserving your oral health. However, they’re not your only option. You may also be a good candidate for implant dentistry.
To learn more, discuss all of your options for tooth replacement, and find out whether or not dentures are right for your situation, just contact Cibolo Family Smiles to schedule a consultation with Dr. Niraj Patel.
How To Get Comfortable With New Dentures
First, it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Your dentures may feel strange at first, but you need to stay consistent about wearing them. As you wear them more, you’ll get used to how it feels to speak and eat with your new teeth. It just takes time, so be patient.As far as eating goes, you may also want to eat softer foods when you first get your dentures. Cutting tough foods like steak into small bites also will make it easier to eat them, rather than tearing directly into them with your dentures.
You also may want to look into denture adhesives. Most dentures will stay in place with friction alone, but denture adhesive can help keep them from moving and shifting, and some patients find that their dentures are more comfortable when they use adhesive. Finally, if your dentures don’t feel right, come back to Cibolo Family Smiles to have them adjusted. Loose or poorly-fitting dentures can cause discomfort and issues like sores on your gums.
If it’s been more than a month and your dentures don’t feel right, you should come and see Dr. Niraj Patel so that he can check on your dentures, and make sure they fit into your mouth properly.
Proper Care For New Dentures
After you get your dentures, Dr. Patel will give you a full set of instructions on how to care for them. But the basic steps are pretty simple. First, make sure to remove and rinse your dentures every time you eat. You should also use a soft-bristled toothbrush to clean your gums after eating.
Once a day, you should also brush your dentures using a toothbrush and a non-abrasive denture cleaner. This will help remove food particles, bacteria, plaque buildup, and other debris. Brushing your dentures thoroughly once per day also keeps them clean and shiny.At night, you’ll need to remove your dentures to let your gums rest and recover. During this time, you’ll need to keep your dentures moist, since they may warp or become damaged if they dry out. Put your dentures in a container of cool water and denture cleaner. Soaking your dentures in a denture cleaner overnight helps sanitize them. Make sure to rinse them thoroughly before you put your dentures back into your mouth in the morning.
You also need to keep coming back to Cibolo Family Smiles every six months for a visit with Dr. Niraj Patel. During your appointment, Dr. Patel will make sure your dentures fit properly, check on your gums, and make sure your mouth is healthy.
Does It Hurt To Get Dentures?
The actual process of being fitted for dentures will not hurt at all. Your dentures may cause some irritation and discomfort as you get used to them, but this will go away once they're properly adjusted and your mouth is used to wearing dentures.
However, preparing to get dentures can involve some discomfort. If you’re getting partial dentures, you may need one or more of your unhealthy teeth to be extracted. And if you are getting a full mouth of dentures, all of your teeth will need to be extracted. Tooth extraction doesn’t hurt, since we offer both numbing and sedation at Cibolo Family Smiles for your comfort.
But after your tooth extractions, your mouth may hurt as your gums heal and recover from your extractions. Dr. Patel will provide you with a full set of recovery instructions that you’ll need to follow in order to reduce pain and speed up the healing process, so make sure to follow these carefully.