Dentures
A denture, or complete denture as it is often called, is a prosthesis that replaces missing natural teeth as well as lost bone and gum tissue. A denture restores function for speech and chewing as well as providing esthetics for our smile and face as it provides support for the lips and cheek. Complete dentures are made for patients missing all of their teeth in one or both arches.
Your denture should be comfortable and stable allowing you to function in every normal fashion. Any excessive movement or inability to eat the foods you desire is an indication that Dr. Sharifi can improve your dentures for you.
Most dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated in different ways.
- A conventional denture is made if you are already missing all of your teeth in that arch.
- An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted if you have teeth that need to be extracted. The denture is delivered the day of the extractions (hence the name “immediate”) and then your tissues are allowed to mature under the denture for a matter of months before the result is finalized with a reline or a definitive denture.
- An upper denture has pink acrylic and covers the palate (roof of the mouth).
- A lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue.
The teeth are made of acrylic, composite or porcelain. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over your tissue alone or a complete denture can be attached to dental implants to allow for a more secure fit of the prosthesis.
Dentures over a normal course of time will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to maintain normal jaw alignment. The fit and bite will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Regular dental examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change. We maintain annual follow up visits for our denture wearers. If you have a denture and haven’t hand an exam in the past year, contact our office for an evaluation and consultation. We’ll complete an oral cancer exam for you at that time as well.
Every year Dr. Sharifi gets dozens of invitations to teach other dentists the nuances of denture fabrication. This is certainly an area of his expertise. This teaching time includes a live patient course where dentures are made and delivered over the course of a weekend – somewhat like a live cooking show. The clinical techniques he has perfected over the past 25 plus years allows Dr. Sharifi to be successful making dentures where others may have failed.
If you would like additional information about Dr. Sharifi’s Live Denture Course click here to receive more information.