If you’re missing some or all of your natural teeth, you have probably spent considerable time considering your options for tooth replacement.

After researching several of them, you may still be wondering “What are dentures?” Dentures are a removable appliance that conceals your tooth loss in addition to returning the full functionality of your mouth. You are able to chew, speak, and smile with ease again. You risk infection as well as alignment problems when you don’t replace missing teeth.

What Type of Denture is Right for You?

Dr. Ahmed will install complete dentures when you have lost all of your natural teeth to dental disease, trauma, or decay. Complete dentures consist of a row of 14 teeth for your top jaw and 14 for your lower jaw. This is the normal number of teeth that adults have without including the wisdom teeth. When you’re missing two or more consecutive teeth on the same arch, he will install partial dentures. You can replace a single missing tooth with a dental bridge to secure the replacement tooth in place.

You can choose to get immediate or conventional dentures when all of your natural teeth have been extracted or lost. With the first option, we make your replacement teeth on-site and install them in one appointment. You will need to visit Dr. Ahmed a few times in the weeks immediately following the procedure just to make sure that the dentures fit correctly and that your jaw and gum tissues have healed properly.

With traditional dentures, you may need to wait several weeks or months from the time Dr. Ahmed extracts your teeth to when he can install the new dentures. This allows for optimal gum tissue healing, but it does leave you without teeth in the meantime. We are happy to provide you with a set of temporary dentures until your customized permanent dentures are ready.

Schedule a Consultation to Learn More About Dentures

The staff at Alpha Dental knows that choosing among the various options for teeth replacement is a big decision. We encourage you to make an appointment for a consultation with Dr. Ahmed so he can discuss dentures with you in more detail. He is also open to discussing other alternatives if you decide against removable dentures.

When you receive removable dentures from Dr. Saeed Ahmed at Alpha Dental, it is very important that you commit to keeping them clean. That being said, many patients are unsure of how to do this and ask our staff how to clean dentures. Although it will take some practice to get into a routine, it won’t be long before cleaning your dentures will become second nature.

Best Practices for Cleaning Dentures

One of the major benefits of dentures is that they allow you to chew your food normally again. To keep them in good condition, remove your dentures from your mouth after every meal and run them under sink water. If you’re concerned about breaking your dentures, place a towel in the sink or fill it up with water first and rinse them that way.

Be sure to brush your dentures at least one time each day. You will need a toothbrush and a non-abrasive denture cleanser to complete the cleaning. This removes food particles, plaque, bacteria, and adhesive glue from your dentures. Be sure to rinse the dentures thoroughly before you put them back in your mouth.

Never sleep with dentures in your mouth as they could fall out and get damaged. You could even choke on them in your sleep. Before bed each night, place your dentures in a glass of water with a denture cleansing tablet. It’s important to do this for cleanliness as well as to help your dentures keep their shape.

When cleaning your dentures, avoid using hot water, bleaching gel, whitening toothpaste, or any type of abrasive material. All of these could cause significant damage that will require replacing your dentures too soon.

Contact Dr. Ahmed with Additional Questions

Dr. Ahmed is happy to answer your questions regarding how to clean dentures. He is also available for a consultation if you are still considering all of your options for permanent tooth replacement. Please contact Alpha Dental at your convenience.