Dentures
Recent Tooth Extractions & Dentures
Once it’s determined that teeth need to be removed by your dentist or oral surgeon, there will be specific changes that will take place in your mouth after teeth are removed. Your supporting ridge structure will shrink rapidly. To understand this think of shoes and feet as an analogy.
Shoes & Feet Analogy
Think of your mouth ridges (feet), being a size 10. When teeth are extracted it's as though your mouth will shrink from a size 10 at extractions to approximately a size 7 in 2-3 months.
The initial denture provided will be placed typically at the extraction appointment by the oral surgeon or a dentist.They will be a size 10 - 10 ½.
As your foot shrinks the shoe doesn't. Therefore the question should arise " how are you supposed to wear a size 10 shoe (denture)? THE ANSWER; Insoles are placed in the shoes as your feet shrink. They are called temporary relines.
I will place these temporary relines in your dentures quite often during the 1st 3 months. You will use denture adhesives to assist your retention of dentures during this time. I prefer to use temporary dentures at this time. They serve a 3 fold purpose:
Temporary Dentures
Temporary dentures enable you to have teeth right away and serves as a band-aid during this time of healing. In addition I place flat blocks in the place of your back teeth. These are occlusal splints. Their purpose is to allow your bite to return to its natural position over time so that when we design your permanent dentures your TMJ (temporal mandibular joint) is balanced as best as your body allows. We call this the neuromuscular balance and it prevents induced TMJ problems long term.
Permanent Dentures
When initial healing has taken place, generally 3 months the permanent denture is designed. The beauty of this is your input on esthetics (how they look) is enabled. Unlike the temporary ones you get to approve how they look prior to their being finished and inserted, and I confirm your bite. This allows you to be a vital part of the design.
I do this by setting up the teeth in wax after we’ve taken impressions and bite registrations (measurements). At the try in we together assure aesthetic satisfaction and I assure we have the correct bite.
When the permanent dentures are inserted your mouth will still undergo approximately 6 more months of change. I will place in temporary relines during this time every few weeks.
When it has been determined that your mouth is no longer shrinking we will perform a procedure called permanent relines.
The permanent reline allows the final fit to be exactly where your mouth ridges has settled to. When we do this your denture will change size (inside) from a size 7 to a 6 ½ as it were.
After these are completed we are finished with your treatment plan and you will go into a maintenance routine. Adjustments are normal in the 1st 1-2 months after relines.
Maintenance will include yearly checkups included in your initial fees. And any necessary adjustments, also included in your initial fees.
Eventually your mouth will shrink and relines will be necessary again. This could be as soon as 1 year but typically is approximately 3-5 years. There will be a reline fee charged at that time.
