|
PLEASE READ ALL THIS MATERIAL BEFORE YOU SEE THE DOCTOR
The enclosed information and dental facts will help you make a decision
about your health.
All living things are dynamic (constantly changing) and this means that as
we become older, each day brings small changes in all parts of our body,
including our mouth with its supporting structures. Today, dentures are made
of hard, non-giving material that does not change. No way has yet been
devised to construct a denture that will change with the mouth over an
extended period of time.
As a general rule when a patient first comes to me for denture services
they:
1. Haven't seen a dentist in years and are presently wearing
dentures.
2. Have just had their teeth extracted or removed.
3. Are planning to have their teeth extracted and then
immediately have the denture or dentures delivered.
A further explanation of each category follows:
1. Patients who are wearing dentures that have not been
refitted or relined within the last two years (three at
maximum), may be wearing dentures loose enough that gum
and mouth tissue are in a moderate to heavily inflamed
state. If a new denture is constructed to fit swollen
gum tissues, it will fit like a band-aid---close contact.
However, this will cause the swollen tissue to heal and
shrink (un-swell), and the new denture now will become
loose and ill-fitting in a short period of time-- no
close contact.
2. Recently extracted teeth will have soft tissue and hard bony tissue that has not healed (not smooth and
rounded). The time for total healing may be as much as
eighteen months. Thus, new dentures will become loose in
a short time, and they will require relining when totally
healed. Other relines may be necessary between
extractions and total healing. These will be done at the
patient's expense.
3. The same principles that are in the previous category
apply to this category except that the dentures are
constructed to fit the mouth and placed immediately after
the extractions. Immediate dentures must be relined upon
healing of the extraction sites. Depending on the number
of extractions and the amount of bony recontouring, the
immediate denture(s) may have to be relined two to three
times. Patient discomfort and looseness are the
determining factors. Remember, a loose immediate denture
cannot be made to fit or regain its' suction (upper only)
by adjustment----it must be relined. These relines will
be done at the patient's expense.
Standard Denture with acrylic (plastic) teeth
Advantages:
Virtually any size, shape and shade of denture
teeth available. Since acrylic teeth are used,
the denture teeth do not chip easily. It is
easier to match a patient's own natural teeth
because of the variety of choices. This choice
is recommended for the immediate denture patient
for this reason.
No disadvantages.
1. No guarantee is made except that the Doctor will do his
best. Only accepted dental guidelines will be used.
2. If you want something changed from your old denture, you
must tell the Doctor before the treatment begins.
3. If the Doctor sees a change that may be necessary,
listen to his professional advice.
4. Porcelain teeth in a denture will wear out your own
natural teeth. Therefore, acrylic denture teeth must
be used where there are some natural teeth present.
5. Often the partial or full denture(s) that you request to
be repaired or relined have reached their limit, and it
becomes a waste of your money and the Doctor's time. If
this is the case, the reason will be explained. Listen
to the Doctor's advise.
6. If the appearance of the denture(s) is to be made to
please another person (other than the patient or the
Doctor), that person should be present at the try-in
appointment.
7. The denture(s) will not be changed after the patient has
accepted the results of the try-in appointment without
an extra charge.
8. Patients wearing denture for the first time can expect
their mouths to "water" more than usual.
9. Almost all lower dentures "float". Learn to place your
tongue on the top of the denture teeth on the lower
denture---not balling your tongue up in the back of
your mouth.
10. Be aware that if you have a small lower jaw or gum or
virtually no gum at all, the lower denture will probably
cause continuous trouble. If you come to us in this
condition, there is little the Doctor can do for you.
11. If dentures break DO NOT try to do the repair yourself.
Breaks have to be put back together exactly, and this
cannot be done with drugstore repair kits or glue. If
home repair has been tried, then the actual repair will
be more difficult, thus more expensive.
12. These denture and denture teeth are not guaranteed
against breakage.
13. There will be a readjustment period after you receive
your new denture(s) (even if you have worn them before)
in which you will have to learn to manipulate them.
Remember to take small bites, and chew with a chopping
motion. Be patient and keep trying. A new set of
dentures is like eating here in the Tampa Bay Area with
a knife and fork, and suddenly you are in Tokyo with a
set of chop sticks.
14. New dentures will produce a change in your speaking.
15. Soft foods should be eaten the first week that you
wear your dentures. Would you take a 20 mile hike
with a new pair of shoes?
16. Use the corner of your dentures to bite, then use a
twisting motion. A straight pulling motion will
dislodge the denture or break the suction.
17. We make full upper and lower dentures with flat back
teeth. Cusped back teeth try to copy natural teeth, but
dentures are anchored to nothing. Our flat teeth do not
give the wash-boarding effect (ask for demonstration),
and do not have a hang-up with sideways movement of your
lower jaw (or denture)--- again ask for demonstration.
18. The wash-boarding effect produces small multiple trauma
impacts to the lower jaw, thus increasing its'
degeneration.
19. If your are getting a single denture against natural
teeth, then the denture will seem loose or wobbly since
the natural teeth are anchored to the bone and the
denture is anchored to nothing.
20. If gums are swollen due to an ill-fitting denture, the
new denture will allow the gums to heal and shrink, thus
making the new denture loose. At this time a reline may
be necessary. If this is the case, the reline will be
done at the expense of the patient.
21. Patients who use powder or cream denture adhesive will
probably continue to use it. The Doctor cannot
physically equal the staying power of these products. So---its hard to break the habit or equal your
expectations.
22. Do not compare your new denture with your old denture
because if fit, function or appearance has been changed,
this change will be felt in your mouth.
23. Lose of weight can effect the fit of a denture. A
reline may be necessary to have the fit adequate.
24. If you have sinus trouble, the upper denture may seem
too tight when sinus flair-ups occur.
25. Do not equate the suction of the impression with the
suction of the denture or denture failure.
26. Pets can destroy dentures. Please do not ask us to
repair a denture that has been mutilated by a pet.
27. DENTURE FIT SHOULD BE CHECKED EVERY ONE OR TWO YEARS.
28. Leaving dentures out at night or for some long period
during the day will allow your gums to rest. Imagine
what your hand would look like if you wore gloves
24 hrs a day.
29. The pressure indicator paste (white in color) takes
at least 3 to 4 days to wash of with your saliva. The
suction will improve when it is completely gone.
30. Diabetics bruise their gums more easily.
We attempt to make you look as natural as we are able. So just remember
that the better job we do, the less anyone will recognize that you have been
here.
Forgive us for making you read this website, but it is much more cost
effective. We are able to keep our prices much more reasonable. Another reason is that we have our own dental laboratory. We
think of ourselves as good business people who have effective cost controls,
etc. When you leave our office, you take only our service(s) with you, and our credibility depends on that
service and only on that service.
Thank you for taking the time to read this information. I'm sure that it will benefit you or the person you brought to us for who's
treatment you are responsible.
Yours in good health,
Anthony R. Cheslock, DDS
|
