FAQ - Nova Dentures

Preparing for tooth loss can be a stressful, daunting process. Prior education and consultation with an experienced dental professional can help to alleviate many concerns, however. To prepare for tooth loss, it is important to talk to your dentist or oral surgeon, make arrangements for transportation to and from the dental clinic, and prepare an at-home recovery space where you can recuperate in comfort.

Losing a tooth can be a painful, embarrassing, and stressful experience. But the good news is that there are more options than ever for replacing lost teeth. Finding the right solution for you can be made after a consultation with an experienced dental professional. Options include dental implants, implant-supported bridges, tooth-supported bridges, and removable partial dentures.

Dentures and implants can result in remarkable improvements to your overall self-confidence and self-esteem. Benefits include the ability to speak clearly, a better and more varied diet, improved facial appearance, and confidence in social settings.

Dentures and implants can result in remarkable improvements to your overall self-confidence and self-esteem. Benefits include the ability to speak clearly, a better and more varied diet, improved facial appearance, and confidence in social settings.

A denture is a replacement for missing teeth that can be removed from your mouth at night, if they become uncomfortable, or if they need cleaning or adjustment. There are two kinds of dentures: complete and partial. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing. Partial dentures are used when only some are missing. Typically, dentures are made from resins or porcelain, while the framework that holds the artificial teeth can also be made from a flexible nylon polymer or resilient Chromium Cobalt metal.

Several steps can be taken to help you adjust to life with dentures. First of all, continue to wear your dentures as your mouth adapts to them. Also, practice eating and talking, and clean them daily with a denture cleanser and brush. Finally, remember to take your dentures out at bedtime to give your gums a rest while you sleep.

Caring for your dentures is simple. Remove and rinse them after eating, handle them carefully, and clean your mouth once they are out. Dentures should be brushed at least once daily and soaked overnight. After overnight soaking, make sure to rinse them before putting them back in your mouth. And always remember to wash your hands before handling dentures.

The average lifespan of full and partial dentures is 5 to 7 years, with reline recommended every 2 to 3 years to refit your dentures as your gums shrink. Signs that you need to replace yours include changes in fit, broken teeth, stains, pain, or broken denture bases. Denture wearers should come in for regular checkups to assess their dentures and make any decisions about replacement.

In your first week of denture use, it is normal to experience sore spots and increased saliva. For these reasons, patients may need to visit our office once or twice to make sure their dentures fit comfortably. First-week denture wearers may also need to adjust how they eat as extraction sites may be sore; pain relievers may help counteract this pain.

For your first week or two with dentures, you will want to primarily eat soft foods such as yogurt, hot cereal, applesauce, puddings, mashed potatoes, and other mashed vegetables. Foods to avoid or treat with caution even after you are used to your dentures include tough meats, crusty bread, whole fruits like apples, nuts, chewing gum, and anything very sticky.

Modern dentures very closely approximate real teeth and it’s likely that most people won’t know you are wearing them. There’s no hard-and-fast rule on when or if you should tell someone you are wearing dentures, though you may feel the need to if you are invited for dinner where you won’t have control over what you are served, or if you begin dating. Dentures don’t need to be a dark secret, but remember that if someone disrespects you after learning you wear dentures, they may not be the friend you thought they were.

Yes, you do! Even if you take proper care of your dentures at home, it is important for a dental professional to examine them annually. This helps with oral hygiene and can identify problems before they become severe.

It is recommended to remove your dentures at night. Removing your dentures at night will give your gums and bone a chance to relax and allow you to properly clean them by letting them soak in a cleaning solution for several hours.

Implants should be cleaned twice a day with a soft-bristle toothbrush and low-abrasion toothpaste. You should avoid abrasive products, floss daily, avoid very hard foods like nuts, and remember that cleaning after meals is particularly important. Make sure you see your dentist frequently for regular checkups to make sure you are caring for your implants properly.

With regular brushing and flossing, and regular dental checkups every six months, implant screws can last a lifetime. Crowns typically last 10 to 15 years before they may need replacement due to wear and tear.

During your first week with dental implants, you should maintain a no-chew diet with soft foods such as applesauce, cottage cheese, milkshakes, seedless smoothies,  yogurt, and mashed avocados. After two weeks you may move on to a diet of foods easily cuttable with a fork, such as steamed veggies, broiled fish, meatloaf, soft bread, and tofu. Foods to avoid after dental implant surgery include hard things like pretzels, hard candy, gum, sub sandwiches, granola, and corn on the cob.