Roseville Dentures

Dr. Paul Binon is a dentist and has answered some of the common questions Bizymoms visitors have about Dentures.


Q. What are dentures?

A. Dentures are artificial replacement prosthesis for those who have lost all or most of their teeth. The denture is made of pink plastic and  tooth colored plastic teeth. The denture fits onto and over the gum area of the mouth. The upper typically covers the roof of the mouth, and the lower is U shaped with much less surface area. As a person wears dentures, the gum ridge shrinks every year of denture wear (3 to 5% /yr) because the bone was not designed for that type of stress. As a denture wearer gets older, the bone continues to melt away and it becomes increasingly more difficult to wear dentures. The upper is usually not as difficult to get used to, except for those with a high gag reflex. The lower typically will not stay in place because of the tongue movement, and the small surface area that the plastic base rests upon.

Q. Why should I use a denture adhesive?

A. As stated in the previous answer, the bone shrinks and it is more difficult to wear dentures as time passes. When that happens, people often rely upon denture adhesive to keep the dentures from moving or coming completely loose when the person chews, smiles, laughs or coughs.  It essentially is a security glue that keeps the dentures in place. The worse the fit, the more adhesive is used. The down side is that you swallow the material and it is not very healthy. Recently there have been implications that the zinc in the adhesive can cause neurological symptoms. The best adhesive is your natural teeth or dental implants.

Q. What types of cosmetic dentures are possible?

A. The cosmetics of dentures have improved greatly. To such a point where it is virtually impossible to tell the replacement teeth from natural teeth. The denture teeth are made of special types of very strong layered composite materials that has light reflective and wear characteristics similar to natural teeth. In the past denture teeth were made of plastic or porcelain, both of which are problematic. The plastic teeth would discolor and wear ve ry quickly. The porcelain teeth would break, chip and come out of the denture quite easily. Naturally, you can have the very best of materials available but the real determiner is the artistic ability of the prosthodontist and the technician. Without their skill and artistry it is just a piece of plastic.

Q. How long do cosmetic dentures take to make?

A. Art requires time. Typically there are at least 5 appointments before the dentures are completed and ready for insertion. That translates into 5 to 6 weeks. I have a very skilled artist technician of the old school that makes my dentures. Not  too many around like that anymore, as it is rapidly becoming a lost art form in our rushed society. He is slow but skillful and a perfectionist.

Q. What are the alternatives to cosmetic dentures?

A. Alternatives are to keep your natural teeth in a healthy state. If you do lose some or all of your teeth then the real answer lies with dental implants. Implant restorations can be made just as cosmetically as regular dentures. So it is really a matter of the difference between the denture and the alternative prosthesis as to function. If you want a prosthesis that does not move around, lets you eat all the foods you were able to chew and eat with your natural teeth, gives you the confidence that you can sing, laugh, make a speech and kiss with passion and vigor without the chance of embarrassment, then have an implant retained and supported prosthesis. Even those folks with little or no bone left can have implant retained prosthesis that are NONE removable! I can show you examples that we completed more than 20 years ago. Yes, they have been around that long.

Q. Are dentures uncomfortable or painful to wear?

A. Dentures are tolerated. As the bone shrinks away, localized areas of bone receive more pressure than the other areas and that results in a  "sore" (pressure spot). Hence you move from spot to spot never quite having total comfort. Yes, dentures are frequently painful. Again, this is a very good incentive to keep your natural teeth or have implant supported dentures or bridges.

Q. What’s the difference between conventional dentures and immediate dentures?

A. Conventional dentures are made for patients that have had their teeth removed a long time ago and are fully healed. An immediate denture is a prosthesis that is inserted at the time the person’s teeth are removed. To avoid going toothless, this interim denture is made and placed in the mouth with a soft bandage type lining. Over a period of approximately three months the gum heals and the initial bone shrinkage slows down. At that time a more permanent denture is made or the "immediate"  is relined to fit the gums better. Typically a denture needs relining every three to five years and typically last 10 to 15 years. When the teeth wear down, the space between the upper and lower jaw is decreased allowing the jaws to come together more closely. This gives many patients the " denture look."

Q. How to contact Dr. Binon if we have further questions?    

A.
Address:
1158 Cirby Way
Roseville, CA 95661
Phone: 916-786-6676
Fax: 916-786-6820
Email: binondds@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.binondentalimplants.com/