Dentures are nothing new. Humans have been trying to replace missing teeth since the 7^thcentury BC; archeological digs have found partial dentures made from human and animal teeth fastened together with gold bands. Wooden full dentures were invented in Japan in the early 16^thcentury. Surely the most famous denture wearer was George Washington, whose dentures were not wood, as folklore has it, but was made with ivory from hippos and elephants, gold rivets, spiral springs, and real human teeth.

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues, and can be complete (replacing all the teeth on either the upper or lower jaw) or partial. Complete dentures are either “conventional,” which take eight to 12 weeks after tooth extraction to place, or “immediate,” which are basically temporary dentures used until your conventional dentures are finished and ready for you.

Expertly fit and designed dentures from SmileOn Dentistry solve some serious problems for patients. Dentures can:

• Improve the patient’s ability to chew and bite properly, making it easier to eat many healthy foods such as crunchy fruits and vegetables.

• Improves a patient’s health through maintenance of good nutrition

• Make it easier to speak clearly with good enunciation.

• Improve the wearer’s self-confidence and self-image.

• Improve the wearer’s facial appearance and structure.

As mentioned above, extraction is often the first step to creating dentures. An Immediate Denture is made for the patient so that they can chew and eat while their gums are healing and while their conventional denture is made. The entire process, including healing and while their conventional denture is made. The entire process, including healing and various fittings, usually takes about two to three months. After your gums have completely healed, SmileOn Dentistry can make you permanent Full Dentures.

New dentures take some getting used to. In the beginning, they can feel a little odd and loose. But the muscles of the cheeks and tongue soon learn how to keep them in place and you become more accustomed to wearing them. There often is minor irritation from rubbing as your gums adjust to the dentures. These issues are not usually involved with partial dentures.

Eating and speaking will take a little practice. In the beginning, you’ll need to eat soft foods cut into small pieces. As you get used to eating with your dentures, you can return to a normal diet, but you should avoid extremely sticky and hard foods. Speaking will take some practice, but reading aloud will train you to speak with your new dentures.

Dentures usually need to be relined, rebased, or remade at some point. This is because of your gum tissue and jawbone change with time. SmileOn Dentistry will refit the denture base or will have a new base made reusing the existing teeth. In most cases, complete dentures will last five to seven years.

Dentures are not meant to be worn 24-hours-a-day. Removing your dentures at night allows your gum tissues to rest and allows for normal oxygenation, stimulation, and cleansing by the tongue and your saliva. Your dentures need to be brushed and rinsed but not with toothpaste, as it is too abrasive and can create microscopic scratches where food and plaque will build up. You need to brush your dentures just like you did your natural teeth to remove stains and any food or plaque build-up. When finished brushing your dentures, they need to stay moist, so it is often best to put them into a denture cleanser soaking solution or in water.