Dentures Minot, ND

Missing teeth have negative effects on one’s dental health, but it can also be a huge burden on everyday life. Chewing and speaking can be strenuous or impossible, and overall appearance and self-esteem are compromised. Broadway Family Dentistry makes custom dentures at our Minot, ND location for patients whose teeth cannot be restored, and require extraction.

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Dentures are nothing new. Humans have been trying to replace missing teeth since the 7^th century 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^th century. 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. Dentures 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. 

While dentures can seem “old school” when compared to dental implants, Doctors Stanley Hirst and Bethany Jensen of Broadway Family Dentistry  love the way dentures enable their patients to regain their smile again.

Anyone can lose teeth for a variety of reasons. Getting older often entails the gradual loss of teeth, and of course, accidents happen. Missing teeth can cause strain on the ones that remain, resulting in pain and difficulty functioning. When teeth are missing or no longer restorable, dentures are an effective option.

Dentures are sets of artificial teeth meant to replace teeth a person is missing. If you’re missing more than a couple of teeth, a denture is needed to replace those teeth. Leaving big gaps in your bite is a bad idea, as it will invariably lead to you losing more and more teeth, ending up needing full dentures. 

People assume getting dentures is all about being able to chew harder foods, but our dentists think there’s more to these dental appliances. Dentures…

• Improve the ability to chew and bite properly.
• Allow the patient to again eat healthy hard foods such as nuts and fruit.
• Improve the wearer’s self-confidence and self-image.
• End the slurred consonant sounds created by missing teeth.
• Improve the wearer’s facial structure.
• Keep remaining teeth from moving (partial dentures).

The entire process of getting dentures, particularly full dentures, usually takes from two to three months. This involves many fittings with either Dr. Hirst or Dr. Jensen at Broadway Family Dentistry. In many cases, the first step in the denture process is to remove badly decayed teeth. So that you’re able to chew while your gums heal, Dr. Hirst and Dr. Jensen make an immediate denture. 

After your gums have healed, this is the process we follow:

1. Your jaws are measured for the relationship between the upper and lower jaw, and the space between them. A series of impressions are taken. 
2. From those impressions, we make what you could think of as “demo dentures” out of wax or plastic. These are made in the exact shape and position of your conventional dentures but are used to check color, shape, thickness, fit, and function. 
3. Once Dr. Hirst, Dr. Jensen, and you agree that you like the fit and structure, final impressions are made for your final denture. These are sent to the dental lab for fabrication. 
4. When the dentures are finished, we test them for fit and make further adjustments. From there, we will probably make a few more minute adjustments as you get used to wearing your new dentures. 

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Dentures can be made from a variety of dental materials, including porcelain, acrylic, nylon, resin, and chrome cobalt. The denture framework is usually made from acrylic, nylon, or metal. The materials used depend upon the type of denture you are having placed. For example, partial dentures may use metal clips with an acrylic base. Full dentures can be made from acrylic but may use acrylic or metal gum attachments. Nylon can be used in place of acrylic. 

As for the artificial teeth, they are made from either porcelain or resin. The porcelain used to be preferred for full dentures, as it closely resembles natural tooth enamel in its translucence and the way it absorbs some light and reflects some light. Porcelain is also very hard and highly resistant to staining. But porcelain has been replaced for the most part by acrylic resin. The resin adheres more securely to the base of the denture. It’s easier to adjust, less expensive than porcelain, and is much lighter. Unfortunately, the resin also wears down faster. 

With the exception of fixed partial dentures, dentures are not meant to be worn 24 hours a day. Removing them allows your gum tissues to rest and allows normal stimulation and cleansing by the tongue and your saliva. 

You brush dentures, but not with toothpaste, as it is too abrasive and can create microscopic scratches that allow food and plaque to build up. Brushing removes stains and any food or plaque build-up. When brushing is complete, your dentures need to stay moist, so they need to be put in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in water. 

If you’ve been missing many or all of your teeth for some time, you’ll be thrilled with what you can eat again. With dentures, you can return to a normal diet, but it’s a good idea to avoid extremely sticky and hard foods. While a caramel apple at the state fair may sound delectable, it probably isn’t a great idea. 

With full dentures, it will take a little practice eating many foods, particularly if you’ve been missing your teeth for a while. In the beginning, you’ll need to eat soft foods cut into small pieces. 

Of course, these restrictions only apply to full dentures. There is little adjustment necessary for partial dentures. 

Complete dentures usually last from five to seven years. At some point, full dentures usually need to be relined, rebased, or remade. This is because of your underlying gum tissues and jawbone change over time. Dr. Hirst will have the denture base refit, or a new base may be created using the existing false teeth. 

The lifespan of partial dentures is highly variable depending on the location in the mouth and care of the appliance. 

If you are from Minot, Williston, Garrison, New Town, Rugby, Bismark, or Devils Lake, ND and would like to get more information about dentures from Dr. Stanley Hirst and Dr. Bethany Jensen, give Broadway Family Dentistry a call at (701) 839-1299 or visit us at 1839 S Broadway St. in Minot.

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