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FAQ'S
Frequently Asked Questions
DO I NEED DENTURES EVEN IF I'M NOT CONCERNED ABOUT MY APPEARANCE?
Yes. Replacing unhealthy or already missing teeth is important for your well being as well as your appearance. Even having one or two teeth missing can affect how you chew and speak. Leaving a gap between teeth can also result in adjacent teeth moving, affecting how your teeth close together. This can result in additional complications.
If all or most of your teeth are missing, a complete denture provides support for your cheeks and lips. Without this support, facial muscles begin to sag and can reduce your ability to eat and speak, as well as making you look older than you are.
A complete set of teeth, natural or not, is important to your overall health and well being.
WILL DENTURES MAKE ME LOOK DIFFERENT?
Only if you want them to! Dentures can be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that little change in appearance will be noticeable. If you were unhappy with your natural teeth however, new dentures can also be made to improve the look of your smile and the overall appearance of your face.
WILL DENTURES CHANGE HOW I SPEAK?
It does take a few weeks to get used to new dentures and pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating difficult words will help you adapt.
WILL I BE ABLE TO EAT ALL OF THE FOODS I LIKE WITH DENTURES?
After a period of adjustment, yes - with a few exceptions. At first, eating will take a little practice. We recommend starting with soft foods cut into small pieces, and chewing slowly using both sides of your mouth at the same time to prevent the denture from moving. As you become more used to your denture, you can add other foods until you return to your normal healthy diet. The exceptions? Eating sticky snacks like toffee is not recommended!
WHY DOES THE COST OF DENTURES VARY SO MUCH?
The saying "You get what you pay for," is very true when it comes to dentures. Chances are that a bargain price is not going to give you the results you want. We pride ourselves are providing the best possible value for dollar, ensuring quality and affordability. We also offer financing options so you can get the dentures that you really want, while paying over a period of time.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE MY DENTURES?
Creating dentures that fit well is a multi-step process, so the time to actually "make" the dentures is not the main consideration. First, impressions of your mouth need to be taken. If you have opted for Immediate Dentures, you should have impressions taken about two weeks before your appointment to have your natural teeth removed. You will come to our clinic immediately afterward and your new dentures will be ready for you to wear. Checkups and adjustments will be required on a regular basis for the first several weeks. After about six months, the denturist will check to see how much change has occurred in your mouth and gums. If these changes are minor, adjustments may be possible to ensure a proper fit with the existing dentures. If the changes are more significant, the denturist may recommend that you now have "conventional" dentures made by taking new impressions.
For conventional dentures, impressions are not taken until your mouth has completely healed. This can be several weeks to several months, depending on the individual. Three to six weeks after the impressions have been taken, the first "trial" fitting occurs. About a week later, your dentures will be ready to wear. Further minor adjustments are sometimes required to ensure the best possible fit. If these are needed, they can usually be done while you wait.
HOW OFTEN DO DENTURES NEED TO BE REPLACED?
If properly cared for, most dentures have a life span of about five years. Regular checkups and adjustments will help to prolong the useful life of your dentures.
WHY DO I NEED REGULAR CHECKUPS FOR MY DENTURES?
The most important reasons are to ensure that your dentures are still fitting properly and to check for any possible damage to the dentures. Changes to your gums and facial muscles affect the "snugness of the fit." If the dentures are not fitting properly, this problem will only get worse over time and can begin to affect how you eat and speak.
Minor damage to your dentures caused by regular wear is much easier and quicker to fix and will help to prolong the life span of the dentures. Small cracks or chips that are not repaired quickly can result in major fractures.
IS IT OK TO USE A DENTURE FIXATIVE TO KEEP MY DENTURES SECURE?
Dentures should fit securely without using a fixative. If your dentures do not feel secure, please make an appointment to see our denturist. If you are waiting to see the denturist or to have new dentures made, it's fine to use a fixative for this short period of time.
CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION FROM YOU ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT AND HOW TO CARE FOR MY DENTURES?
Absolutely! If you have any questions at all, just send us an email using the form on the Contact page, or give us a call at 604-468-4867