Services in Slacks Creek: Dentures & More

Teeth have many functions apart from chewing and biting, so missing teeth are ideally replaced for the following reasons:

   - To improve appearance
   - To prevent stresses causing damage to other teeth
   - To prevent the teeth near the gap from shifting
   - To maintain the natural bite
   - To improve chewing ability

The following options exist to replace missing teeth:

 
DENTURES
Millions of people worldwide wear dentures. With today’s technology, they look more natural and fit better than ever before. For many people, dentures vastly improve their oral health and appearance.

There are different types of dentures:

Partial Denture: A partial denture is made to fill the space left by a few missing teeth. To hold the partial denture in position, clasps are used to secure the denture to nearby natural teeth.

Full Denture: A full denture is made when all the natural teeth are missing. It is fitted to replace the upper teeth, lower teeth, or both.

Immediate Denture: The dentist inserts an immediate denture at the same appointment as teeth are extracted. The advantage is that the patient avoids a period without teeth.

Dentures can be made out of acrylic or metal. Our dentists can discuss which type of denture is more suitable for you. After a while some dentures can feel loose and awkward. If your denture is causing irritation, ulceration, or is loose, it can often be adjusted or relined by your dentist to improve comfort. Ideally, the dentures should be removed every night before going to bed as this allows the gum tissues a chance to rest.

The complete Australian Dental Association patient education pamphlet is available from your dentist.

 
BRIDGES
Bridges replace one or more missing teeth. They consist of an artificial tooth anchored to the natural teeth on each side of the gap. Bridges are usually made of porcelain and gold alloy. Porcelain is strong and can be made to match the colour of the natural teeth. Gold alloy is used for its strength, hardness and durability. It is especially useful for molars which must withstand the forces of grinding and crushing.

The complete Australian Dental Association patient education pamphlet is available from your dentist.

 
IMPLANTS
Dental Implants are artificial tooth roots that are inserted into the jawbone to replace missing natural teeth. Implants and their attached crowns closely mimic the look and function of real teeth. They can make an attractive alternative to dentures and bridges. A dental implant is the metal “root” that is inserted into the jawbone. The artificial tooth (crown) is attached to the implant.

We do not do implants at Daisy Hill Dental Care, but we have specialists that we are happy to refer you to.

The complete Australian Dental Association patient education pamphlet is available from your dentist.