Category: Dental care

Your search to a comprehensive family dental care stops here. We have been providing high-quality dental care services in a warm and comfortable environment. With a focus on patient-centered care, we make your experience pain-free. Our comprehensive range of family dental services are committed to give patients beautiful smiles.

Elgin Family Dentist has extensive experience in all the aspects of modern dentistry. Whether it’s preventive education to maintaining oral hygiene, we help to reduce dental problems of any type.

General and Preventive Dentistry
Our preventive dentistry services comprise cleanings, routine check-ups, restorative and cosmetic services like fillings, veneers, bridges and more. We offer our patients the most comfortable procedure for a visit that is pain-free as much as possible.

At your checkup, we will inspect your soft tissues for oral cancer, periodontal disease and other problems. Our dentist will also look at each tooth to analyze problems like tooth decay, cracks etc. We also replace old dental work like fillings, inlays, crowns and other alternatives to break off additional problems in the future.

We are also on the lookout for changes to your gums and teeth or early signs of abnormalities that could signal oral cancer. The earlier we detect issues, the better chance we have to fix the problem before it’s too late. This is the reason we recommend our patients to stick to checkup schedule and not miss cleanings. If you are in need of general or preventive dentistry services for your oral health, please schedule and appointment with us today.

Restorative
Restorative procedures repair damaged teeth to create a natural smile. This includes crowns, bridges, dentures and implants for a smile you have always dreamed of. We restore damage to your teeth and gums by providing services for specific areas in your mouth.

We will check on your oral health at every step of the way, ensuring that you are getting the right treatment for individually shaped gums and teeth.

Cosmetic
Our cosmetic dentistry services are aimed at addressing discolored and different shaped teeth. From whitening to dental bonding and veneers, you can have a beautiful smile for years. If you have been considering a smile makeover, we can help you by remodeling your look, filling you with confidence and restoring you both physically and emotionally.

We can transform your dull stained teeth to bright, eye-catchy smile. Reshape teeth that are crooked, gaped or overlapping with natural looking veneers.

Sedation
Our dentists at Elgin are committed to changing the fear associated with dentistry into a positive affirmation. Sedation dentistry will make your treatment more enjoyable and help you relax in a comfortable environment. They type of sedation we use depend on your condition. When you visit, we will discuss the sedation options and recommend the appropriate method for you. If you have struggled with dental anxieties, please let us know.

Request for a consultation at our office now!

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Dental health plays an important role at every stage of life. No matter what our age is, it is important to practice great and healthy oral habits to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Just like adults, a good dental care plays an important role for young and growing children too. Parents often wonder how early they should start with infant dental care. If you have very young children, it becomes often unclear how to start with their oral care. However, it’s really never too early to start thinking about practicing good dental practices.

When thinking about infant dental care, you should start keeping the phases in mind. The first starts with pregnancy, teething, and then your consultation. Let’s take a look at each of them in-depth.

Phase 1: Pregnancy
Infant dental care actually need to start even before your child’s birth. During the 9 months of pregnancy, your child develops within the womb. This development includes every part of the body including teeth. Some babies are born with teeth, known as natal teeth. If your baby has teeth upon birth, you should definitely consult your dentist on how to handle them. If required, you can also ask them to get removed.

A mother needs to maintain a healthy diet during pregnancy keeping the oral health development of their child in mind. The best infant dental care should start with taking good care of oral health, diet and hygiene. A good oral hygiene for the mother during pregnancy can directly affect the health of baby. As your newborn grows, they will also be able to take good care of their teeth and gums.

Phase 2: Teething
The second phase of infant dental care starts with teething. Children actually develop teeth during pregnancy, so, at the time of birth, they will have 20 of their teeth under the gums. The next phase involves bringing teeth through the gums.

Teething usually starts occurring in young children between half and a year and a year old. There are some symptoms that indicate teething has begun. They include excessive fussiness, excessive drooling and increased irritation. These signs should not bother much. However, if issues like diarrhea, rash forming, or fever occur along with teething, you should immediately consult your doctor.

Once your baby starts teething, you can calm them by gently rubbing their gums or by giving them a clean hard teether to chew on. You can consult our Elgin Pediatric Dentist on the best teethers to choose from.

A great infant dental care involves cleaning the teeth and gums with a wet washcloth at least once a day. As more and more teeth starts coming in, you should start cleaning more regularly. Start with early cleaning practices to ensure that the first teeth coming through stays healthy as your baby continues to grow.

Phase 3: Dental Consultation
As your child starts to have teeth come in, you should start talking to your dentist about it. Even if your child is very young, you must talk to their pediatric dentist about the dental history. So, infant dental care should start as soon as your child is born. Before starting. It is important to consult a pediatric dentist.

Having a know-how of your family’s dental health history will help your dentist to plan the treatment accordingly.

Phase 4: First Dental Visit
The next step of your child’s dental care involves actually going to see the dentist for the first time. According to the dental experts, parents should take their young children to the dentist between 6 months to 1 year of age. You should see a dentist when the first teeth comes in and the child’s first birthday. Considering the dental history, your doctor might recommend an earlier visit.

Take your child to the family dentist who takes care of all members of your family. This way both the dentist and you will equally be knowing about each other. First visit involves cleaning and checking for flaws, if any. After the first checkup, you can also discuss with the dentist when the next visit should be and how best to prepare your child for each visit.

After seeing the dentist, you would feel safe about your child’s health. When your child is born, make sure to consider early infant dental care into consideration. Planning ahead makes the process easier as your baby grows. The more you involve your pediatrician and family dentist, the better will be your child’s dental health.

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The older we get, the more susceptible we become to oral health issues like gum disease and tooth decay. Our immune system isn’t able to fight off infections and we may not find much time to visit to the dentist. If oral health issues are left untreated, they can result in serious complications.

Listed below are some of the most common dental problems for older people:

Oral Cancer
Oral Cancer is spotted the most in elderly people. According to American Cancer Society (ACS) more than half of all oral cancer patients are 65 years of age and older. So, the older you get, the more you are at risk and the more important it becomes for you to take care of your oral health.

Oral cancer is easily detectable by lesions found on your tongue. If a lesion or sore is found in your mouth, it is recommended to consult Elgin Dentist TX to have it checked out.

To reduce the risk associated with Oral Cancer, it is important to get regular oral cancer screenings. Oral cancer is treatable only if detected early.

Gum Disease
Gum disease is quite common in older people. It does not have any obvious symptoms. This is the reason people fail to realize until it reaches an advanced level. At the advanced stage, the disease causes the gums to pull away from the teeth, thereby resulting in tooth loss.

People who smoke, or are stressed are more susceptible to developing gum disease. If you notice that your gums are puffier than usual or bleed while brushing, you should see your dentist immediately. They will be able to determine the severity and recommend a treatment based on your needs.

Cavities
According to the research 9 out of 10 elderly people have cavities. Older people are at an increased risk of developing cavities because they take medications that result in dry mouth. When the mouth does not produce enough saliva, it fails to neutralize the acids inside mouth.

Additionally, older people with arthritis also suffer from cavities. Pain in fingers is generally reported while holding onto a toothbrush, thereby preventing them from brushing their teeth accordingly. Wrapping a washcloth along the toothbrush makes it easier to grip.

Tooth Discoloration
As people age, it’s common for their tooth enamel to wear away which leads to tooth discoloration. Tooth discoloration not only affects one’s confidence but also forms plaque and tooth decay. People should opt for professional teeth whitening treatment to brighten their smile.

To minimize the risk of these oral health problems, it is important to take good care of teeth and gums by visiting the dentist regularly.

Contact our dentist at Elgin to know about some of the other ways that can fix these issues in the long run.

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Source: https://www.theladders.com/career-advice/poor-oral-health-linked-to-75-increase-to-this-deadly-cancer

The latest study is preceded by research, albeit limited research, that has linked oral health and different kinds of cancer.

A massive new UK study uncovered an unsettling link between poor oral health and an increased risk for liver cancer.

“Poor oral health has been associated with the risk of several chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, and diabetes,” commented Dr. Haydée WT Jordão, who is the lead author of the study. “However, there is inconsistent evidence on the association between poor oral health and specific types of gastrointestinal cancers, which is what our research aimed to examine.”

The new report pulls from brain imaging and genomic data from 475,766 people over a six-year study period. Analyzing self-reported cases of bleeding and painful gums, loose teeth and mouth ulcers, the researchers enacted an investigation of the correlation between these conditions and risks for gastrointestinal cancers, namely liver cancer, colon cancer, rectal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The study found zero notable associations with dental hygiene in all but one of the gastrointestinal cancers observed in the report.

The pervasion of hepatobiliary cancer
More than 800,000 people are diagnosed with liver cancer a year worldwide, making it one of the leading causes of death. Direct causes of hepatobiliary cancers are seldom able to be determined resolutely. Typically its development is factored by several underlying causes.

The latest study is preceded by research, albeit limited research, that has linked oral health and different kinds of cancer. A U.S study published back in 2017 found that women with a history of gum disease experienced a greater risk for tumors in the esophagus and in their breasts. Another independently conducted study observed a link between oral health and the development of pancreatic cancer in African American women.

Young people, women, individuals living in impoverished areas, and people that consumed less than two portions of fruits and vegetables a day evidenced the highest cases of poor oral health in the latest study conducted by researchers at Queen’s University Belfast. Although a high-risk increase was uncovered as a result of poor oral health, the researchers can only speculate as to why at the moment. Leading conjecture looks to the ever-perplexing gut microbiome. Since the liver is responsible for exterminating several harmful bacteria in the human body, it makes sense that bacteria could conversely play a role in inflicting prolonged damage to the body, in the event of the organ becoming compromised.

“One bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, originates in the oral cavity but its role in liver cancer is unclear. Further studies investigating the microbiome and liver cancer are therefore warranted,”Jordão explained.

Another theory surmises that people with missing teeth, consume softer less nutritious foods to compensate, which ultimately makes the liver venerable to cell mutations. As it stands, of the 469, 628 participants studied, 4,069 developed gastrointestinal cancer during the six-year follow up, Thirteen percent of these expressed poor oral health at the start of the study period. More research needs to be conducted to support a causal influence behind the findings intimated in the United European Gastroenterology Journal

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A pediatrician has a very important role in taking care of your child’s oral health needs. Research shows that children who visit the same pediatrician have better health in the long run. Selecting the right pediatrician for your little one is an important decision. The first years of life are very crucial for the overall foundation of healthy permanent teeth. Several studies conducted in the past have shown that factors like poor diet, wrong habits of food intake and inappropriate tooth brushing habits have a major role in tooth decay. This is the reason it is important to have a proper oral hygiene routine followed in the earlier stages of life to develop strong and healthy teeth.

If you have a pediatric dentist taking care of your child’s oral health routine, you will be benefited with the following:

As discussed above, preventive care starts with the first tooth. Dental visits in the earlier stages of life improve the chances of preventing dental disease and helping your child with cavity-free teeth. An early start means less expense for your child later on. An experienced pediatrician gives all the support your child needs to develop good oral hygiene habits that will last a lifetime.

Our pediatrician takes extra care time with your children to ensure that they are in a secure environment. We offer a comprehensive range of restoration services in a kid-friendly environment. The services covered under the same are fillings, crown and other dental issues like an abscessed teeth.

Plaque build up can happen even if you brush and floss your child’s teeth regularly. The bacteria in plaque create an acid attack that infects your child’s tooth enamel. When enamel gets decayed, your child gets a cavity. Dental cleanings every 6 months help to wipe off the bacteria. Our pediatricians use professional tools to remove plaque build-up and prevent it from getting worse.

By taking regular appointments with a pediatrician, you will be able to identify potential issues and provide early detection.

It’s never too early to start visiting the dentist. Once you start child routine dental care, you won’t be developing problems and also be instilling good oral hygiene habits in your children. Child dental care doesn’t have to be complicated. To help your children be well-versed with great oral hygiene habits, it is important to see your child to a pediatrician.

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While prioritizing physical and mental well being, people often forget to pay attention to their oral or dental health. There are many who think dental work is more of cosmetic, however, it is important to understand the real mouth-body connection for overall well being. Oral health is the door into your overall health. Neglecting your mouth’s health can be fatal and this is something, right from dentists to patients needs to know right now.

Oral Cancer Awareness month has just passed and it is expected that more than 50,000 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer this year, seniors being more at risk.

What Is Oral Cancer
Oral cancer is the cancer occurring in the oral cavity, be it floor area of the mouth, cheeks, teeth, gum or lips. The other affected areas are middle region of throat and back of the mouth.

Signs of Oral Cancer
If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms, consult our dentist for screening now:

1. Soreness
2. Difficulty in jaw movement
3. Numbness
4. Trouble in swallowing
5. A thick patch of skin
6. Irritation

Senior citizens who are diagnosed with oral cancer are aged 55 and above.

There are factors like irritation from poorly fitted dentures, consistent use of tobacco and smoke and family history that multiplies the risk. However, patients can greatly reduce the risk by early detection. Also, control over lifestyle habits and regular visit to the dentist would solve the purpose.

How Is Oral Cancer Screening Done
Oral cancer screening does not require special preparation and is performed during a regular dental appointment. During the screening session, our dentist will look inside your mouth to hunt for sores or red patches of tissue.

They will touch and inspect the lymph nodes in neck and jaw, around ears, salivary glands. They will also look for signs of swelling if any.

Examination of tonsil is yet another step. Our dentist uses a dental mirror to look for redness, enlargement or unusual bumps.

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The Mouth Joint Connection

Tooth loss, technically known as periodontal disease (PD), not only refrains you from enjoying your favorite food but also shares a strong relationship with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Yes, you have heard it right! Patients suffering from RA are likely to have an increased risk of gum disease. Both the disease are linked to severe inflammation and that is your body’s immune response to prevent bacteria and virus. Owing to its association with strong inflammation, periodontitis increases the risk for diseases like diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Both RA and periodontitis also appear to share a genetic link.

RA is an enervating condition that causes joints to become inflamed, thereby leading to pain, stiffness and swelling. The findings held Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis) responsible for gum disease. P.gingivalis is one of the major protein causing periodontal disease. Studies by the Journal of Periodontology show that patients with rheumatoid arthritis are eight times more likely to have periodontal disease as compared to people without RA.

The Inflammation Link
As discussed above, both RA and periodontal disease have inflammation in common. Inflammation is a protective immune system to virus and bacteria. However, with an autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system triggers inflammation even when there are no bacteria and virus. It is therefore understood that inflammation is a common figure between RA and gum disease.

Immune system and chronic inflammation play an important role in rheumatoid arthritis and gum disease.

According to John Hopkins study (2016), bacteria responsible for chronic gum infection triggers the development of citrullinated proteins. These proteins develop auto antibodies which have a major role towards RA.

Oral Complications Caused Due to RA

• Swelling gums is the first indication. Other symptoms can also contribute to dental problems. Patients suffering from RA in jaw joints may find it difficult to open their mouth properly. Similarly, having pain in the hands, elbows and shoulder can make brushing difficult. If your body starts taking control of your ability to take care of your oral health, you will see cavities building up and inflammation in the gums.
• Treating RA with medication improves joint functioning and also makes it easier to take care of your teeth. Medicine that reduce inflammation may be advantageous for your mouth as well.
• Patients with RA experience dry mouth as a side effect. This is a condition characterized by dry eyes and mouth that occurs with RA. Saliva helps in fighting bacteria against the mouth. Without enough saliva, you will get more cavities and gum disease.

Treating Gum Disease Helps RA
The treatment of gum disease is the only cure that helps get rid of RA and neutralizes its impact on the overall health. Patients who get periodontal disease treated professionally can have significantly less pain, stiffness and less painful joints.

Rheumatoid Arthritis can be disastrous, however, taking care of your oral health can possibly reduce the impact of disease. A research done by Case Western University School of Dental Medicine revealed that patients who received non surgical treatment for gum disease reported significant improvement in RA. There is yet a lot of research to be done for identifying whether treating gum disease helps with RA. Therefore, it is important for patients suffering from RA and their physicians to work in collaboration with dentists and get rid of periodontal disease.

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One of the most common causes of toothache, tooth sensitivity refers to the discomfort associated with toothache in one or more teeth. Tooth sensitivity affects the exposed root surfaces. It occurs when the enamel gets thinner.

Patients suffering from tooth sensitivity should avoid consuming hot and cold food items. If you are suffering from tooth pain, you might find difficulty in biting, chewing and even sleeping at night. The source of tooth pain can be decay, injury or an infection in the tooth.

Our dentist will do an oral examination to identify the real cause. Below are a few things you need to be aware of:

Diet: Eating hard or acidic food can harm your teeth. Other contributors to tooth sensitivity you must be aware of are juice, citrus fruit, sports drinks and so on.

Brushing Harsh: This is an abrasive technique that leads to tooth sensitivity. Using a hard bristled toothbrush aggressively contributes to teeth sensitivity.

Tooth Decay: A small cavity in tooth eats away the enamel. In this case, a crown or filling could be of great help.

Sinus Infection: Sinus infection hurts your teeth because of the inflammation of sinus swelling. A sinus infection can be suspected in your teeth.

Cool Temperature: Cold air over the teeth triggers a sensitive cramp. Our dentist will be testing the sensitivity by blowing air on your teeth.

Stress: Stress is another cause of tooth damage. If you consistently grind your teeth due to stress, you might be a victim of tooth damage. Also known as bruxism, teeth grinding generally happens when you are asleep. Right from tooth damage to headache and other hearing disorder may occur as a result of teeth grinding.

Treating Sensitive Teeth
Sensitivity in teeth can be really dull. Having sensitive teeth prevents you from enjoying your favorite ice cream or using your favorite whitening toothpaste. However, there are better ways to desensitize your teeth.

There are a large number of over the counter medications and toothpaste available that can help with sensitivity when used regularly. Our dentists recommend the use of fluoride gel to help fight sensitivity.

Sensitivity in teeth is a big inconvenience. However, being candid with your dentist about any side effect can help your provider evaluate the situation. So, whether you are suffering from tooth sensitivity, decay or infection, it must be addressed properly by your dentist.

Schedule your appointment today. We look forward to helping you with restorative care in case of sudden tooth sensitivity.

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Cancer is a fatal disease, it promotes uncontrollable growth of cells that invade and cause damage to surrounding tissue. Oral cancer is a cancer that gets formed in the mouth and appears as a suspicious growth of tissue or sore that does not wane away but gets enlarged with time.

Certain factors that may cause oral cancer are:

• Tobacco used in any form, be it cigarettes, cigars, pipes or chewing it
• Heavy alcohol abuse
• Previous oral cancer diagnosis
• Significant exposure to sun, which increases the risk of lip cancer

Why its screening is important?
Oral cancer screening can be explained as a visual and physical exam of the oral cavity and its connected tissues. It can reassure a patient that there are no apparent lesions or other problems that give signs of cancer.

Cancer or for that matter any deadly disease can be invoked in our body without being summoned from our side. Many times it is seen that such diseases are diagnosed when we least expect them. Thus, regular screening of the mouth enables the doctor or a dentist in case of oral cancer to look for signs of cancer or precancerous conditions.

Early detection is half the battle won. It is often seen that cancer in any part of the body is detected way too late for any effective treatment to be availed. The possibility or chances of cure wanes out with the advancement of the stage of cancer. Thus, chronology of detection is of pristine importance here.

Most dentists examine your mouth as a matter of precaution during your routine dental visits to screen out possibilities of oral cancer. Some dentists may perform additional tests to locate areas of abnormal cell growth in your mouth.

Medical organizations are divided on their opinion on whether healthy people without inherent risk factors for mouth cancer require oral cancer screening. As a matter of fact, oral exams or oral cancer screening tests have not proven to have reduced the number of cases where people die of oral cancer.

Oral screening have some limitations though, such as:

• Oral cancer screening often lead to additional tests. Many people who report sores in their mouths, are often found to have non-cancerous sores. An oral exam is unable determine completely which sores are cancerous and which are not.
• If your dentist finds an unusual sore, he may advise you to go through further testing to determine its cause. Biopsy is the only way to definitively determine whether you are suffering from oral cancer or not. Under biopsy some tissue from the lesion is removed and studied under the microscope to determine whether it contains cancerous cells.
• It is not easy to detect areas of abnormal cells just by looking at your mouth, so it’s possible that a small cancer or a precancerous lesion may go undetected.
• Oral cancer screening hasn’t proved to be a potent measure to save lives. No evidence supports that routine oral examinations for detection of signs of oral cancer have reduced the number of deaths caused by oral cancer. However, screening for oral cancer may detect early cancers — when cure is more likely.

How is such screening done?

1. Visual Exam: The face, neck, lips, inside of the nose and oral cavity are all examined for oral cancer. Before the screening, the patient is asked to take out all removable dental appliances like dentures so that every place inside the mouth is properly exposed for the doctor’s ease.As per the guidelines of Oral Cancer Foundation (OCF), a doctor or dentist looks for swellings, asymmetries, bumps, ulcerations, patches of color or other abnormalities. To have a sneak peak inside the nose and mouth, the doctor or dentist uses a light torch and mirror to see things clearly. A tongue depressor is used to hold down the tongue and examine at the back of the mouth. The patient may be asked to open his/her mouth as wide as possible so that areas in the throat that are otherwise difficult to see are properly examinable. These days a dentist can even float a nano-camera attached to a string down your throat to get pictures of the insides for better clarity of the case.
2. Physical Exam: The visual exam is complemented by a physical exam wherein, the dentist also touches the inside of the oral cavity like cheeks, places around the jaw, under the chin etc for unusual growth formations or lesions. An important sign of a potential threat is immobility in otherwise mobile tissue, and the patient is asked whether physical contact at such places causes any pain or discomfort. Oral cancer is generally painful, but a painless swelling can still indicate a sign of problems elsewhere. As per the OCF, the patient might also be asked to swallow while the throat is under examination.
3. Additional tests for oral cancer screening: Some dentists use special tests in addition to the visual and physical exams to screen for oral cancer. It’s not clear if these tests offer any additional benefit over the conventional exams though.

Special oral cancer screening tests may involve:

• Rinsing the oral cavity with a special blue dye before an exam. Abnormal cells in the mouth may absorb the dye and appear blue.
• Throwing light in your mouth which makes healthy tissue appear dark and abnormal tissue will appear white.

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Dentures are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth.

Whether you are considering getting dentures, already have them, or know someone with them, it’s very likely that you may have some questions about them. What follows is information on what dentures really are, what kind of care they require, and how dentures can improve your oral health. We hope to help you find the answers to all your denture queries and to find out, if necessary, whether dentures might be right for you.

What are dentures?
Dentures are artificial teeth and gums that are formed to your mouth and created by your dentists to replace lost or removed natural teeth. Dentures can either be full or partial, meaning they can either replace all teeth on either the top or bottom gum line, or just a few that are missing. Regardless of what kind of dentures you may need, they will be custom designed to fit your mouth, and visually matched to your existing teeth.

What are they made out of?
In the past, the artificial teeth that make up dentures were made out of porcelain or plastic, but more modern dentures are generally made out of a hard resin. The materials used to make denture teeth are known to be more fragile than natural teeth and can easily chip or crack if dropped or otherwise uncared for. This material also wears down much quicker than natural teeth and thus must be replaced with a new set of dentures every five years or so.

The supporting structure of dentures that holds the artificial teeth in place and resembles the natural gum line is often made out of a similar resin used for the teeth, or a more flexible polymer material that fits snugly on the natural gum line.

Why wear dentures?
Dentures not only improve the appearance of a smile that has multiple missing teeth, but they also keep the structure of the mouth sound by supporting the structures around the cheeks and lips. Dentures also make it possible to eat foods that require chewing, making it possible to keep your diet the same and ensure that you are properly nourished. Lastly, dentures are a viable solution to replace teeth that are causing serious pain and oral health issues, such as those with rotted roots or severe damage. Having dentures fitted means that troublesome teeth are eliminated and replaced with a strong and beautiful alternative.

Partial dentures
Partial dentures are often used instead of other tooth replacement methods when the surrounding natural teeth are not strong enough to support structures such as dental bridges, or when more than one or two teeth are missing.

Classic partial dentures
The partial dentures are fitted to the part of the gum line that they will sit on, and fasten to nearby natural teeth to keep from falling out of place. They are not permanently fastened, however, and can be easily taken out at any time for cleaning and while sleeping.

Full dentures
Full dentures, otherwise known as complete dentures, are dentures that replace all of your natural teeth. You can have them fitted for your top or bottom gum line, and are held in place by suction and/or the help of an oral adhesive. Just like partial dentures, they are easily removable

Immediate dentures and overdentures
There are some other kinds of full and partial dentures that differ from traditional permanent dentures including a type called immediate dentures. These dentures are created before the teeth that are being replaced with dentures have been removed and are used immediately after tooth extraction and during the healing process, which can be up to six months long. These dentures can be more easily refitted than permanent dentures to accommodate for mouth changes as the swelling in the gums and jaw subsides while healing. The immediate dentures will be disposed of once the healing process is complete and your mouth is ready for permanent dentures.

Overdentures are an alternative that can be used if traditional dentures prove to be extremely uncomfortable or if you have a few natural teeth left. Overdentures are fitted over the roots of natural teeth and either rest on these or on dental implants, if there are no natural teeth to fit over. Some find this type of denture more comfortable and they are also easily removable.

Implant-supported dentures
As the name seems to imply, these are dentures which are anchored by dental implants. A dental implant is a permanent fixture that is anchored to the jawbone and can be used to replace any number of teeth. They’re comprised of the implant itself, a metal post (usually titanium), and a custom crown which looks just like a natural tooth.

Implant-supported dentures have a couple of different ways in which they can attach, but should be cared for and treated like traditional dentures. It’s more common to have them done on the lower jaw since the upper has fewer problems with fitting securely, but plenty of people have implants on both.

How to clean dentures
Regardless of what kind of dentures you may have, all dentures need to be cleaned daily, just like regular teeth. Even though dentures are made up of artificial teeth, bacteria, plaque, and tartar still build up on them and can harm existing teeth and gums.

To clean your dentures, take them out of your mouth and run clean water over them to dislodge any food particles that may be stuck between teeth, along the gum line, or underneath the structure. Then brush the dentures all over with a denture brush or very soft toothbrush using a mild soap or denture cleaner. Be sure not to use any other cleaners, regular toothpaste, or electric toothbrushes as these are all too abrasive and can damage and wear away the denture materials. After cleaning, make sure to rinse them well.

While your dentures are out of your mouth, be sure to clean your gums and any natural teeth with a very soft and wet toothbrush and fluoridated toothpaste if needed. If your toothbrush is too harsh, wrap your finger in a wet, soft washcloth and gently rub your gums, making sure to cover all surfaces.

Preserving your dentures
Always remove your dentures before sleeping to avoid damaging them, dislodging them, and to give your gums some time to relax. Submerge your dentures fully in warm, but not hot, water to keep them from drying out and becoming misshapen. Only use denture soaking solution if your dentures do not have metal components as the solution can tarnish the metal.

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