Dentures (aka. false teeth) Surrey

Modern dentures are highly aesthetic and you'd never know that people are wearing them... the old image of ugly plastic dentures is no longer true and we can now make highly aesthetic denturs to replace your missing teeth.

Having missing teeth replaced with dentures helps to build confidence and restores your dignity - only with well designed and made dentures is this possible, so please call us today for an intial assessment, or request an appointment online.

Some common questions answered by our Specialist; Shelagh Farrell

What are Immediate dentures?

These are fitted after the teeth have been extracted so that patients do not have to walk around without teeth. The gums can be a little sore at this stage so it is important to see the dentist whenever soreness arises so that the dentures can be adjusted and the patient made comfortable. As the gums heal they shrink so the immediate denture can feel loose. This is a good time to reline the denture or make a new one.

Why are dentures often loose?

When teeth have been extracted the bone which surrounded the roots of the teeth is no longer needed and so it shrinks, hence the gums shrink. This shrinkage happens very rapidly after extractions but it continues through time albeit at a much slower rate. When dentures become loose they can be relined or a new denture can be made.

How long do dentures last?

A good average life of a denture, especially a full or complete denture, is five to seven years. Some people wear the teeth out much faster than this. Most people will not realise that the teeth are wearing down so as a result their nose becomes too close to their chin giving a ‘nutcracker’ look. It is therefore important to have dentures checked at regular intervals.

My dentures make me wretch

Most people feel sick if their soft palate is touched but in some people the reflex extends to the hard palate. If this is the case the denture needs to be made so that it does not touch that part of the hard palate, in other words a palateless denture.

My dentures are always breaking

Full upper dentures tend to fracture in the middle especially if they are opposing natural teeth in the lower jaw. This can be prevented by placing a strengthener of chromium cobalt into the denture. This is a rigid strengthener and prevents the denture from flexing and so breaking.

What is a Partial denture?

These can be made much smaller if they are made in chromium cobalt because it is stronger than plastic. They can also be made thinner and so are generally more comfortable.

What are the alternatives to dentures?

Teeth can be replaced by implants or if the space has natural teeth on either side of it a bridge can be made. Sometime missing teeth do not need replacing, perhaps if the missing tooth is at the back of the mouth. Your dentist will need to advise you on the appropriateness of an implant, bridge or denture according to the state of the other teeth.

What is the difference between NHS and Private dentures?

As there is no restriction on cost for private dentures the dentist can choose from a wider range of top quality materials and teeth. These can look more realistic. Also time can be spent improving the contours of the face by ‘plumping’ the dentures to support the lips. The teeth can be made to look more natural by copying patient’s own teeth from photos taken when they are young.

How can I make my dentures feel less ‘big and baggy’?

As the gums shrink, dentures will get loose and feel ‘big and baggy’. This can be corrected by relining the denture with a new fitting surface.

How can I get perfect looking dentures?

There are some very good quality teeth on the market these days which look completely natural and with good technical work there is no reason why dentures should not look realistic. Trying the teeth in at the wax stage, in other words before the dentures are finished allow the patient to approve or disapprove the appearance. At this stage the colour and position of the teeth can be changed and the dentures are not finished until the patient is perfectly happy with the teeth.

My mouth is falling in

When teeth are extracted the bone which is under the gum shrinks. This is why faces fall in. It is necessary as time goes by to replace the bone by building up the acrylic on the denture. This is very effective in reducing the lines from the nose to the mouth.

Also teeth can be put further forward than they would naturally be. This also helps to support the lips.

I cannot put lipstick on very easily

Again this is because the dentures are not supporting the lips which can be remedied.

My lower denture moves around when I eat

This problem can be solved by putting two implants into the bone which have attachments like press studs which clip into the denture. This stops the denture from moving.

Similarly if there are some retained roots which have been root filled, metal copings or hats can be put over the roots, which oppose magnets in the denture. This can have a similar effect as the implants but costs less.

I do not like the clasps showing on my denture

Clasps are put on dentures to help secure them. If they are near the front of the mouth they can be unsightly. These can be made in tooth coloured materials instead of metal (‘invisible clasps’). Also the placement of magnets in dentures over retained roots can aid retention and be invisible.