Dentures were made as early as the 7th century B.C. These early dentures, made by the Etruscan people, were built from animal teeth held together with gold bands.
First, Dr. Schmidt will meet with you at Titletown Dental, and explore all of your options for replacing your missing teeth. These include dentures, as well as dental implants and dental bridges.
If some of your teeth are unhealthy or you’re getting full dentures, you may need one or more tooth extractions. These will be done before your denture fitting.
If Dr. Schmidt approves you for dentures, you’ll come in for a follow-up denture fitting. Dr. Schmidt will take molds and images of your teeth and gums, and will create a bite mold of your mouth. After your first fitting, he will work with a dental lab to build a set of test dentures.
Next, you’ll come to our office and try out your first set of test dentures. Dr. Schmidt will work with you to adjust the fit, shape, and appearance of your dentures. Then, he will order a new set of test dentures from our partner dental lab. This process will be repeated several times, until your dentures fit perfectly.
Once your test dentures fit perfectly, Dr. Schmidt will order your final set of permanent dentures. Then, you’ll come to our office to try your dentures last time and get care instructions from Dr. Schmidt. We’ll send you home with a brand-new smile!
Partial dentures replace one or several missing teeth. They consist of multiple false teeth that are attached to a metal and plastic framework. This clips onto your remaining healthy teeth, holding your dentures in place and restoring your smile.
Full dentures use an acrylic, gum-colored base that supports a full row of teeth. They can be used to replace the upper, lower, or both rows of teeth. Full dentures require the removal of all of your remaining teeth, even if they're healthy. For this reason, full dentures are usually only recommended for patients who have serious oral health issues, such as extensive gum disease or tooth decay.
It is important to remove your dentures in before bed to prevent soreness and infection.
Usually, a set of full dentures will last somewhere between 5-10 years. Partial dentures typically last 10-15 years with proper care.
Over time, your dentures may wear down and require replacement. It’s important to continue coming to your six-month checkups at with your Green Bay dentist to ensure that your dentures are in good shape.
After you eat, you should remove your dentures and rinse them to remove any loose food particles. At least once a day, you should brush your dentures with a soft bristled toothbrush and mild, unscented, soap. This helps remove bacteria and food and prevents the buildup of stains.
At night, you should remove your dentures from your mouth to allow your gums to rest. During this time, you need to keep your dentures moist. You can store your dentures in a glass of water, or you can soak your dentures in an overnight denture cleaner. Denture cleaner is available at most drug stores and grocery stores.