Dentistry is the known evaluation, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders and conditions of the soft and hard tissues of the jaw (mandible), the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and the adjacent.
An Interview with Dr. Mariela K. Lung on Dentures
Dr. Mariela K. Lung is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Dentures.
Q. What are dentures?
A. A denture is a removable appliance for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures: complete and partial dentures. A complete denture is used when all teeth are missing. A partial denture is used when some natural teeth are still present.
Q. Why should I use a denture adhesive?
A. If the denture does not fit in a secure manner, one may use denture adhesive. The tissue under denture should be dried, then place denture adhesive on the denture (use a "pea size" amount in a couple of areas of the denture) and seat in the mouth. If denture after being adjusted by your dentist does not stay in place using denture adhesive and is hard to eat with them, one may have to consider having implants placed to secure a denture.
Q. What types of cosmetic dentures are possible?
A. Dentures are made out of an acrylic resin which may at times incorporate metal for additional structural support. A partial denture could have a metal substructure and acrylic over the metal to replace missing teeth. The more cosmetic partial would be a Valplast® flexible partial which is metal-free and made from an unbreakable nylon resin.
Q. How long do cosmetic dentures take to make?
A. Dentures in general take between 3 to 5 appointments to make. First an impression is taken of the upper and lower arches and a wax bite impression of the mouth is also taken. Then a try-in of the denture in wax is done to fine tune color, shape, and custom-fit. If patient likes the denture in wax, then the denture is sent back to the lab to have it processed and finished. The final appointment is to deliver the denture.
Q. What are the alternatives to cosmetic dentures?
A. There may be different alternatives, depending of the situation each patient may have. A couple of examples are: If a patient has only a few teeth missing and does not want to wear a cosmetic partial denture, dental implants or a fixed bridge could be the solution. If the patient has periodontal (gum) disease and teeth are somewhat mobile, an option could be to do laser periodontal therapy (LANAP) to kill the bacteria in the pockets around the teeth and have new bone grow around them, making teeth more stable, thus keeping the teeth from having to be extracted and replaced with a denture.
Q. Are dentures uncomfortable or painful to wear?
A. Dentures can be uncomfortable if they do not fit well on the gums. Sometimes, they can rub on an area and make the gums sore. Also, when having teeth extracted and the denture is immediately placed, it may be uncomfortable to wear since the area will be healing and shrinking as time goes by and so the denture will not fit as well. Soft tissue reline material may be placed throughout the healing phase after extractions to help with the sore areas.
Q. What’s the difference between conventional dentures and immediate dentures?
A. Conventional dentures are made and inserted after teeth have been removed and the tissues have healed, at least for 4 months. Patient is without a denture during the healing period. Immediate Dentures are placed immediately after the teeth have been removed. The immediate dentures are made prior to the removal of the teeth so that the patient does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, the bone and gums can shrink over time, especially during the first six months after teeth have been removed. When the gums shrink, the immediate dentures may require relining to fit properly.
Q. How to contact Dr. Lung if we have further questions?
A. You may contact Dr. Lung at her office at (863) 647-3222. Also you may visit her website at http://www.thefamilydentist-lakeland.com and/or email her at drlung@thefamilydentist-lakeland.com.
