What are Dentures?

Dentures (also known as dental plates) are a set of artificial teeth, which are used when a patient has lost real teeth on the mandibular arch, the maxillary arch or both. Patients can become entirely edentulous (without teeth) either due to ineffective oral hygiene or trauma.

Dentures fulfill several different functions. First, dentures provide "teeth" for chewing and breaking down food. After several natural teeth have been lost, even chewing soft foods can be difficult and sometimes painful. Plus, if several teeth have already been extracted, chances are that others are in danger or have already succumbed to periodontal (gum) disease. Natural teeth also provide structure and shape to facial tissues. If teeth are lost, the tissues of the face tend to sink in, adding years to a person's appearance. Dentures provide the structure that was lost with natural teeth.

Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing only some of their teeth on a particular arch. Fixed partial dentures, better known as crowns and bridges, are also for patients missing only some of their teeth, but these are more expensive than removable appliances.

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Do All Older Adults Need Dentures?

Dentures are a solution of last resort. Many people assume that they will require dentures as they age, but losing teeth is not a normal part of the aging process. If a person cares for her/his teeth well and guards against periodontal (gum) disease, she/he should be able to keep her/his teeth for a lifetime.

Saving even a few natural teeth is better than losing them all. Natural teeth or even portions of natural teeth (roots) can help the patient retain bone in her/his jaw and can act as stable supports for bridges or removable partial dentures. The PrimeSource Dentist will try to save as many natural teeth as possible.

This offers several advantages since natural teeth:

• Help preserve bone.
• Bear some of the chewing pressure, which reduces pressure on other areas of the jaw.
• Improve the stability of the denture and make it less likely to shift in the mouth.
• Provide the patient with a sense of where the jaw is in space and the pressure he/she is placing on the denture.
• Help the patient psychologically accept the denture.

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When are Dentures Not Recommended?

There are a number of drawbacks associated with full dentures, and not everyone can successfully wear them. In some instances, dentures are not especially useful because of retention or stability problems. For this reason, even a single healthy tooth left in place can stabilize an otherwise unstable full denture.

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How are Dentures Made?

First, the PrimeSource Dentist takes an impression and the measurements of the patient's jaws. The color (shade) of the teeth is determined either from the natural teeth or a denture the patient may already be wearing. A mold of the wax-up denture is made, teeth are mounted in place, the wax is removed and the remaining space is filled with pink plastic in dough form. The mold is heated to harden the plastic. The denture is then polished and made ready for the patient to wear.

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Are Dentures Unbreakable?

While PrimeSource dentures are fabricated from extremely durable materials, they are not totally indestructible. Given the right set of circumstances any denture will break, wear out, and the tooth will come out or the fit will change.

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What is Relining and Rebasing?

Dentures usually need periodic alterations because the tissues and bone supporting the dentures change over time. Relining and rebasing are alterations that adjust denture fit to make them more secure on a patient's gums. Rebasing involves making an entirely new denture base, while relining modifies the existing one. Both procedures maintain the denture's existing artificial teeth.

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How Should a Patient Care for the Dentures?

Dentures are not permanent fixtures in the mouth; the patient needs to take them out at least once a day. Most people take their dentures out at night when they sleep and store them in a container of water or a denture cleaning solution. The water or solution should be changed daily, and container washed frequently.

Dentures need to be cleaned twice a day using specially designed denture brushes. The tissues in the mouth also need to be brushed and massaged to clean away debris. This also helps maintain good circulation in the patient's gums.

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Denture Recommendations

At the time of the recommendation, the Prime-Source Dentist may carefully make an exact impression of the patient's mouth and forward it to the PrimeSource dental lab*.

Since many factors within the mouth can affect a dental impression, the Dentist will use her/his judgment as to when conditions are suitable for taking a good dental impression.

Next, PrimeSource Healthcare will attempt to secure insurance prior authorization approval. If insurance is denied or unavailable, PrimeSource will try to access payment through liability deferment or private funding.** Once authorization or funding is received, the denture is fabricated by PrimeSource Lab Technicians, and then shipped to the Dentist.

The PrimeSource Dentist will visit the facility to fit the dentures to the patient's mouth. Minor adjustments can be made on-site to the fit and bite. The Dentist will also explain proper denture care techniques to the patient.

* Dental impressions for private pay patients are not made until payment is assured.
** A loss prevention letter may be necessary if a dental prosthetic is being replaced under the conditions of the PrimeSource TotalCare™ Replacement Guarantee. This process could affect the delivery of the new prosthetic.

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Warranty, Return Policy, and Replacements

Click here for information about the Replacement Guarantee, warranty, and return policy.

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