Missing Teeth? We Will Help You.

If you’ve lost all or most of your natural teeth from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, dentures can replace your missing teeth and create a beautiful new smile using dentures. Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health in several ways. Without support from the teeth, your facial muscles sag, making you look older. Losing your teeth can ruin your ability to truly enjoy life, like laughing with an open mouth, smiling without embarrassment, eating whatever foods you like, speaking easily and clearly, and having the self-confidence that comes with looking healthy and attractive.

Back in George Washington’s days, dental care was in its infancy. Although an athlete and horseman who was otherwise healthy, President Washington began losing his teeth in his 20’s, not uncommon in those days. Contrary to popular belief, his dentures were not made of wood, but of gold, lead, and ivory. They held both human and animal teeth, used springs to help open and close and were bolted to hold them together. This was the best solution available then.

Now there are many types of complete and partial dentures. A conventional full denture is custom-made and placed only after any remaining teeth are extracted and the patient has completely healed, which can take several months. By comparison, an immediate complete denture can be inserted as soon as the remaining teeth are removed. We take measurements and create models of your jaws during a preliminary visit. With immediate dentures, you won’t have to be without teeth during the healing period. We offer affordable dentures. Sacramento, Rocklin, Granite Bay and Folsom are a short drive to our office’s convenient location.

FAQs Concerning Dentures

What do dentures feel like?

A new set of dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until you become accustomed to them. They may feel loose while the muscles of your cheek and tongue learn to keep them in place. It is fairly common to experience some minor irritation or soreness. You may also find that saliva temporarily increases. As you become accustomed to the dentures, these problems will diminish. One or more follow-up appointments with your Fountains dentist are generally needed after a denture is inserted. If any problem persists, particularly irritation or mouth soreness, be sure to consult with us.

Complete dentures, as compared with partial dentures, are “conventional” or “immediate” depending upon when they are made and when they are inserted into the mouth.

Immediate dentures are inserted immediately—just after the remaining teeth are extracted. To make this possible, we take measurements and create models of your jaws during a preliminary visit, before your teeth are extracted. An advantage of immediate dentures is that you won’t have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, because bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the period of healing in the first six months after the removal of teeth, the immediate dentures may require rebasing or relining to continue to fit properly. Alternatively, a conventional denture is made after the tissues have completely healed, which takes at least 6-8 weeks, sometimes longer. Therefore, patients who choose conventional dentures will be without teeth during the healing process.

Modern denture technology ensures that dentures can be made to closely resemble the natural size and whiteness of your teeth so that little change in appearance will be noticeable. However, dentures can actually improve the look of your smile and fill out the appearance of your face and profile, creating a younger, rested look. Well-crafted dentures look very natural—similar to the old Clairol commercial, “only your dentist knows for sure.”

An overdenture is a removable denture that fits over remaining natural teeth or implants. The natural teeth must be specifically prepared to provide stability and support for the denture. We can determine if an overdenture would be suitable for you when you visit our dental office in Roseville.

Eating takes a little practice, so we suggest that you start with soft foods cut into small pieces, chewing slowly on both sides of your mouth at the same time to prevent the dentures from tipping. As you become used to this, add other foods until you return to your normal diet. You will want to continue to chew food using both sides of the mouth at the same time, something many people don’t do with their natural teeth. You should be cautious with hot or hard foods and sharp-edged bones or shells.

Pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating troublesome words will help. If your dentures “click” while you’re talking, speak more slowly. If a speaking problem persists, consult your Fountains dentist for help.

Your Fountains dentist will provide instructions about how long dentures should be kept in place. During the first few days, you may be advised to wear them most of the time, including during sleep. After the initial adjustment period, you may be instructed to remove the dentures before you go to bed at night to allow gum tissues to rest and promote oral health. Generally, it is not advantageous for the tissues to be constantly covered by denture material.

Denture adhesives are not a good solution if you have old, ill-fitting dentures, but should be used for additional retention with well-fitting dentures. Poorly-fitted dentures cause relentless irritation over a long period, which can contribute to the development of sores. You may not need to start completely over with a new pair, as these dentures may benefit with a reline. If your dentures do begin to feel loose or if they cause discomfort, consult with Fountains Dental Excellence immediately.

Dentures are surprisingly delicate and may break if dropped even a few inches. When handling them, stand over a folded towel or a basin of water, so if you do drop them, they won’t fall onto a hard surface. When you are not wearing them, store dentures away from children and pets.

Just like your natural teeth, dentures must be brushed daily to remove food deposits and plaque. Brushing also helps prevent dentures from becoming permanently stained and helps keep your mouth healthy. It’s best to use a brush specifically designed for cleaning dentures. A soft-bristle toothbrush can also be used. Avoid using hard-bristled brushes, as they can damage your dentures.

Some denture wearers use hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid, which are both fine for cleaning dentures. Avoid using powdered household cleansers, which are too abrasive, and do not use toothpaste. Denture acrylic is softer than real tooth enamel, and the abrasives in regular toothpaste can create microscopic scratches, which create places for bacteria to hide and grow. Also, never use bleach or peroxide on your dentures, as this can whiten the pink portion of the denture. Look for denture cleansers with the ADA Seal of Acceptance or ask your dental professional at Fountains Dental Excellence.

  • First rinse away loose food particles thoroughly.
  • Moisten the brush and apply denture cleanser.
  • Brush every surface carefully, scrubbing gently to avoid damage.
  • You should brush them at least twice a day.
  • If you are not wearing your dentures at night, place them in a covered container with denture soaking solution or plain water, so they don’t dry out. Never use hot water, however, as this can cause warping of the denture material.
  • You can also use an ultrasonic cleaner for dentures, though this will not replace a daily brushing.

No! You can damage your dentures and harm your health by adjusting or repairing your dentures on your own. See us if your dentures chip, crack or break, or if one of the teeth becomes loose. A Fountains dentist can often make the necessary adjustments or repairs, generally on the same day while you wait. A person without the proper training will not be able to reconstruct the denture without causing damage, which can then damage your tender mouth tissues. Although you may find glue in stores that are tempting to use on your dentures, most of these glues contain harmful chemicals which should never be used on dentures or anywhere near your mouth.

Yes. Over time, your dentures will need to be relined, rebased, or remade due to normal wear and tear. To reline or rebase your dentures, the Fountains dentist keeps the existing denture teeth and refits the denture base; in some cases we may create a new denture base and insert the existing teeth into it. Dentures need to be replaced if they become too loose to reline and/or the teeth show signs of significant wear. Dentures become loose as your mouth changes with age, as bone and gum ridges recede or shrink, causing jaws to align differently. Shrinking ridges can cause dentures become looser, which can cause health problems, like sores and infections. A loose denture makes chewing difficult and may change your facial features. It’s very important to replace worn or poorly fitting dentures before they cause problems.

Ask Fountains Dental Excellence’s specially trained dentists about how often to visit. Your dentist will examine your mouth to see if your dentures still fit properly. The Fountains dentist will also examine your mouth for signs of oral diseases, including oral cancer. With regular professional dental care, a positive attitude and persistence, you can become one of the millions of people who wear their dentures with a smile

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