So you need dentures – how to win at life with false teeth
Once upon a time, not so long ago, dentures were quite obviously false. But things have changed, and at Richmond clinic Sheen Dental Implants, a number of solutions are now available to provide patients who require all of the teeth in one or both jaws replacing with functional and attractive alternatives.
You may hear the word “dentures” and picture your grandma or grandpa’s false teeth sitting in a glass of water by the bed every night. You may also remember grandpa’s teeth slipping out of his mouth or grandma struggling to eat many foods, and whilst your grandparents may have taken such issues with good humour, underneath they may have been deeply embarrassed.
So if you hear that you need dentures yourself, you may be scared of experiencing similar problems. A visit to Sheen Dental Implants in Richmond will soon put your mouth at rest. By using dental implant to stabilise your denture, these problems can be avoided.
Dental implants replace the root portions of missing teeth, simultaneously holding your dentures securely in your mouth whilst also stopping the jaw bone from shrinking – the main reason behind common denture issues such as slippage.
Dr Harmit Kalsi, implant surgeon at our Richmond dental practice, has carried out thousands of successful implant treatments. To stabilise dentures he will place between two and six implants per jaw, to act as anchors for your false teeth.
As soon as the implants are in place, a process called osseointegration begins, during which the dental implants mesh with the jaw bone and blood vessels to provide a stable anchor for your dentures.
Full healing takes a few months to complete, during which time you can wear your old dentures. Once healing is complete, your Richmond dentist will attach your new denture to abutments on top of the implants, restoring full functionality and natural appearance.
Dentures can be permanently attached to implants and brushed like natural teeth, or you can opt for them to be removable, in which case you simply take them out to clean like a standard denture. Otherwise, they will remain securely in place.