Denture Services
The dentures at Active Denture Clinic are designed and constructed in our laboratory by our qualified, experienced team. Each denture is individually, custom-crafted to enhance, compliment and fulfill each patients aesthetic and functional requirements. Utmost care and consideration is taken during our extensive consultation process to ensure that each denture functions efficiently and has all the cosmetic enhancements required by the patient. Considerable time, effort and care is taken to ensure you receive a natural looking, individual and aesthetically pleasing denture.
We encourage patient input and involvement. We work closely with each patient to maximize the cosmetic and functional possibilities of the denture to ensure that the optimum colour, position, tooth arrangement and lip support is achieved. We invite our patients to show us images of smiles they love.
Active Denture Clinic offers a full range of services and are qualified and experienced in the construction, provision and fitting of implant retained overdentures. We work closely with local dentists and oral surgeons to ensure our patients receive accurate, comprehensive treatment planning, individualised service and quality dental care. Using the finest materials and teeth available from reputable suppliers, we aim to provide you with a strong, safe and bio-compatible product, that will have you smiling for many years to come.
Full dentures are used to replace missing teeth in cases where the patient has no natural teeth remaining in the upper jaw (Maxillary) or lower jaw (Mandibular). A full denture is supported by the gums and the palate and is a removable appliance.
As the upper jaw has a palate, full upper dentures do not usually have a problem with suction or function. A full lower denture is horseshoe shaped and does not have a palate for suction, normally relying on patient management and the relationship with the upper teeth to remain in place.
Partial dentures replace teeth where only some of the patients natural teeth are missing. Each partial denture is completely individual as they are designed to replicate a patients unique oral aesthetics, function and fit. There are two types of commonly manufactured partial dentures.
Cast Chrome Cobalt Partial Denture
Cast chrome cobalt dentures are considered to be a more permanent partial denture option unlike acrylic partial dentures. They are thinner, stronger and less bulky. Metal partials are far superior to acrylic partials as bite forces are distributed between the gums and the remaining teeth. This is achieved by using retainers/clasps to grip your natural teeth and hold the denture firm. Rests are incorporated to do just that, rest on your natural teeth and stop any damaging up and down movement.
Acrylic Partial Dentures
The base of acrylic partial dentures are made entirely from a plastic-like, high-grade dental acrylic. Acrylic partials are considered to be a less expensive temporary option and we do not recommend an acrylic partial as a long-term solution as they are not as comfortable or strong as a chrome cobalt denture. Stainless steel retainers are sometimes used to keep dentures in place.
It is recommended that you keep any natural teeth where possible, however some or all of your natural teeth may reach a point where they are doing more harm than good. In this circumstance the only option may be to have your natural teeth extracted and a denture placed. This process is called an immediate denture and the denture acts like a Band-aid for the extractions, with the new denture replacing the extracted teeth immediately. An impression is taken before your teeth are extracted and from that we construct a denture. This denture is taken with you to your extraction appointment to be placed by your dentist.
The general healing time after extractions varies anywhere from 3 months to 12 months. During this time the denture may fit well one week and possibly cause a pressure spot the next. This is simply due to gum and bone shrinkage. The denture will gradually become less well fitting as the gums heal, shrink and reform/reshape. You may require adjustments and temporary softliners to maintain fit and function during this healing period. Once the initial healing process is complete, you may require a reline/rebase to refit your denture to the changed oral landscape.
Soft Liner
A soft liner is a layer of soft material that is bonded to the hard surface of a denture and rests on the gums. It acts as a cushion between the hard plastic base of a denture and the gums and helps to create the maximum retention possible by utilizing undercuts in the bone and gum, which hard liners may not be able to do without causing irritation. Soft liners will spring around these undercuts and allow for greater retention than hard liners might be able to achieve in the same mouth. Soft liners can be added to existing dentures in some circumstances.
Permanent soft liners can provide comfort and relief for individuals with:
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Severely receded, flat or nearly flat gum tissues that have less tolerance to cope with the load stress of dentures
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Chronically sore gum tissues & gums
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Gums with prominent or sharp bony areas
Your gums shrink and change but the denture does not change with it. In order to maintain correct fit and function it is sometimes necessary to reline a denture. Once a new impression is taken, the tissue side/fitting surface of your existing denture is cut away and replaced with new dental acrylic. The appearance of the denture remains unchanged, with only the fit being altered and
improved.
We recommend you have your denture checked every six months to ensure you have the most accurate fit and function. Some people will require a reline sooner, others may go years without a reline.
The reline procedure is normally an overnight process which allows us to use the strongest heat-cured material. However in some circumstances we can complete a reline within one day. We always endeavour to have you without your denture for the shortest period whilst still using the best available materials.
There are many reasons why a denture breaks and in most cases if your denture is broken it can be repaired, however a visual/physical assessment of your denture is required to confirm this. Sometimes it is not just as simple as repairing a denture as you may not fix the problem that caused it, such as an ill-fitting denture base due to shrinkage.
Your dentures cannot be simply glued back together!
There is no glue available for dental repairs. Super-glue and other industrial adhesives are toxic and not designed to be used in your mouth. Do not try to repair a denture yourself using any sort of glue. It is poisonous and at the very least can make it harder for us to perform a proper repair. The process involved in repairing your denture or replacing a tooth, is a system that is designed especially for dentures. This is a pressurized and chemically bonded repair process, using the same materials that your denture is made from. It takes time for these materials to cure and harden completely. This is the only proven safe and correct method for repairing dentures. Most repairs can be completed the same day.
Depending of the design of the denture it is usually possible to add a tooth or a retainer if you have any of natural teeth extracted. There is no cost to you to have one of trained staff assess your denture for addition suitability
