New to Dentures? Here’s How to Take Care of Them

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If you’re missing all or some of your teeth, your dentures provide you with essential functionality that can help restore your smile. Dentures make talking and chewing possible even when you’re missing many teeth. In addition, many people would feel self-conscious if they didn’t have dentures to help restore their smile.

Dentures serve an important function, and if you have dentures, maintaining them can prolong their service life. Your dentist in Foley, AL can help. At Sand Dollar Dental, we help patients take care of their dentures. Here’s what you need to know.

How to Clean Dentures

Cleaning dentures is easy with denture cleanser. Brush your dentures at least once per day by removing them from your mouth and using a soft bristle brush to brush your dentures. Use the brush and denture cleanser to remove stains and food particles from your mouth.

Other tips: 

  • Brush your mouth including your gums, tongue, and the roof of your mouth whenever you take out your dentures. Remove denture adhesive from the roof of your mouth when you do this.
  • Remove your dentures and rinse them off after you’re done eating.

How to Maintain Dentures

In addition to the cleaning tips above, there are other ways to maintain your dentures. Here’s what we recommend for most patients with dentures:

  • Handle dentures carefully. Dentures are breakable and need gentle handling when they’re not in your mouth.
  • Put a towel on the counter or in the sink when you’re handling dentures. If you drop your dentures, they will be less likely to break if they hit a towel.
  • Soak your dentures overnight. Remove your dentures overnight and soak them in water or a denture solution. This helps dentures keep their shape.

How Long Do Dentures Last?

How long dentures last varies depending on the material they’re made from and how well you take care of them. Many dentures will last about 10 to 12 years before they need to be replaced. When dentures get older, they’ll start to slip out of place easily, or they may become cracked. This is when it’s time to get new dentures.

Need Dentures? Contact Sand Dollar Dental

The professionals at Sand Dollar Dental provide dentures in Foley, AL. If you need dentures, call today.

4 Benefits of Same Day Dentures

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If you intend to get dentures, you should consider same-day dentures in Foley, AL. Same-day dentures offer significant advantages over regular dentures, with similar results.

What are Same-day Dentures?

Same-day dentures are so-named because they are done the same day. There’s no waiting period like with traditional dentures. But make no mistake, no quality is sacrificed with same-day dentures. You end up with a denture that is at least as good as you would if you went with traditional dentures! Here are some key benefits to be aware of:

1. Immediate Results

One of the primary benefits of same-day dentures is the immediate restoration of both function and appearance. Unlike traditional dentures, which require a waiting period after tooth extraction for the gums to heal, same-day dentures are placed immediately. This means you can leave the dental office with a complete set of teeth, avoiding the embarrassment and inconvenience of being without teeth.

2. Immediate Protection For Extraction Sites

If you’ve lost teeth due to one or more necessary extractions, your dentist will tell you that the extraction sites need to be protected as quickly and efficiently as possible. During the healing process, the gums may be irritated and possibly infected from exposure to bacteria. But with same-day dentures, these extraction sites are protected, since the dentures serve as a protective barrier.

3. Psychological and Emotional Benefits

As an adult with one or more missing teeth, you know very well how embarrassing it feels to smile or even speak in public. It doesn’t look good, and it certainly doesn’t bode well for your self-confidence. The immediate placement of same-day dentures can have significant psychological and emotional benefits. Same-day dentures eliminate this concern by ensuring you have a full set of teeth right after extraction, boosting your confidence and emotional well-being. You walk out of the dentist’s office looking as great on the outside as you now feel on the inside!

4. Time Saved

Of course, one of the biggest benefits of same-day dentures is the time saved. You don’t have to have multiple dental appointments, and above all, you don’t have to wait for weeks while your dentures are made in a far-off dental lab!

The advantages of same-day dentures make them a popular choice. Talk to your Foley, AL dentist today to see if same-day dentures are an option for you!

How Long Do Same Day Dentures Last?

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If you’re not interested in waiting a long time before your permanent dentures in Foley, AL, are ready, you might be interested in same day dentures. Same day dentures allow you to walk out of your dentist’s office with natural-looking teeth the same day you come in for treatment. This newer alternative offers convenience, affordability, and the confidence to face the day without anyone knowing you’re missing one or more teeth.

How Long do Same Day Dentures Last?

One of the questions patients ask about same day dentures is how long they last. Unlike traditional dentures, same day dentures aren’t intended to be worn permanently. Traditional dentures have the capacity to last for decades. Same day dentures are certainly durable, but they won’t last anywhere close to decades. But that’s okay because they’re only intended to be a temporary solution.

With care, same day dentures can last for several months, but likely less than a full year. Of course, it doesn’t take several months or a year for your permanent dentures to be made. However, many patients find that being able to wear same day dentures for longer allows them to prepare for the cost of their permanent dentures financially. And in the meantime, the patient doesn’t have to suffer the indignity of appearing in public with missing teeth.

Health Benefits of Same Day Dentures

Immediately after tooth extraction, the gums are not ready for permanent dentures. The timing of waiting a while before wearing permanent dentures is necessary because as the gums heal and the swelling subsides, the immediate dentures might not fit as snugly as they initially did, leading to discomfort and potential issues with eating and speaking. So same day dentures not only help the patient to feel more confident; they also serve an important function until the gums are healed sufficiently so that permanent dentures can be fitted and worn.

While same day dentures offer immediate benefits, their lifespan is limited compared to permanent dentures. Investing in high-quality same day dentures and adhering to a regular maintenance routine can significantly impact their durability until you’re ready for your new permanent dentures. Contact your Foley, AL dentist at Sand Dollar Dental to learn all about the process for getting same day dentures!

dentures

Daily Denture Care

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It took a lot to get the perfect fit for your dentures in Foley, AL. Now that you have great dentures that make you look and feel good, doesn’t it make sense to do everything you can to ensure they last as long as possible? Here are the tips you need for daily denture care to ensure they are hygienic and ready for wear.

Cleaning Dentures

Just like teeth, your dentures must be cleaned regularly to free them from bacteria, food particles, plaque, and other things. In fact, your dentures need special cleaning that goes beyond traditional oral hygiene. This includes:

Rinsing After Eating – Every time you have a snack or a beverage other than water, take a minute to rinse your dentures. You can do this during a regular bathroom break. This helps to dislodge food particles and helps to make dentures last longer.

Brushing Often – Some people only brush dentures at night before going to bed. But if you take a minute to brush after lunch and dinner as well, your dentures will be better for it.

Soaking Overnight – Each night, soak dentures in a cleaning solution that’s specially made for dentures. This helps eliminate bacteria that may be left over after brushing and rinsing.

Handling Dentures

Dentures are strong and durable, but they aren’t unbreakable. treat them delicately because they could break if you drop them. Always handle with care. When removing dentures, stand over a countertop surface that’s covered with a soft towel. If you drop them, they won’t land on a hard surface. Hold the dentures gently but firmly. Avoid bending or damaging the material.

Maintaining Oral Health

Taking care of your mouth is just as important as taking care of your dentures. Before inserting your dentures in the morning, use a soft-bristled toothbrush to gently clean your mouth’s gums, tongue, and roof. Keeping your mouth moist helps prevent irritation and discomfort from dentures. Visit your dentist regularly to ensure your dentures fit properly and to check for any issues with your oral health.

If you need any help with dentures or you need to be fitted for new ones, contact your dentist in Foley, AL. We offer full and partial denture services and are always happy to help!

Top 7 Procedures for Smile Restoration

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Interested in improving your smile? Your dentist in Foley, AL, has solutions, including these seven most common procedures:

1. Clear Aligners

Clear Aligners perform many of the same duties as braces, but with less visibility. Instead of using wires and brackets that attach to your teeth, clear aligners use a series of clear plastic trays.

2. Veneers

Porcelain veneers are shells that attach to the front of a tooth that has a flaw. They can cover stains, chips, cracks, and more.They’re permanently affixed and can be dyed to match the exact shade of white of the surrounding teeth.

3. Dental Implants

Dental implants are made of three parts — a metal post that is implanted into your jawbone, an abutment that’s place atop the post, and a tooth-shaped crown that slips over the abutment. Once in place, they look and function like natural teeth and can last up to 15 years.

4. Dental Bonding

Dental bonding can hide flaws much the same way that veneers do. But instead of a porcelain shell, your dentist uses a putty-like resin material that they then harden using a light. Dental bonding can fix the appearance of a misshapen tooth, fill cracks and tiny holes, and make teeth look flawless again.

5. Tooth Extraction

If your teeth appear crowded, sometimes extracting one or two can help. This is especially true of wisdom teeth. Often, when wisdom teeth grow in, they cause existing teeth to shift. By pulling out the extra teeth, your dentist can leave room for the rest to move back into seamless position.

6. Crowns

Crowns look just like natural teeth, except for the fact that they’re hollow shells. They fit into place over existing teeth to add structure or to seal the tooth from infection, such as in the case of a root canal.

7. Dentures

If many or all of your teeth can’t be saved, dentures may be the solution. Dentures consist of complete or partial sets of prosthetic teeth that are fastened to an acrylic resin base.

For more information on smile improvement in Foley, AL, contact Sand Dollar Dental today.

Same-Day Dentures 101: Questions and Answers for Curious Patients

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Considering dentures in Foley, AL for smile replacement? Same-day dentures may be an option to consider. While many satisfied patients do get same-day dentures, a lot of people are not familiar with the process. Take a look at a few of the most common questions about same-day dentures and what to expect.

How are same-day dentures different from regular dentures?

Same-day dentures are made of the same materials as other dentures. The only difference is the dentures are made right in the dental office instead of by an off-site lab. Therefore, you do not have to wait to be fitted with your dentures after molds and measurements are taken. And, you get to leave the office with your new teeth in place instead of having to face the world without your teeth.

Do same-day dentures look like natural teeth?

For most patients, same-day dentures look so much like natural teeth that it is difficult to distinguish the difference. During the process of making dentures, great effort is taken to make the teeth look natural. The dentist will work with you to pick the proper tooth sizes, colors, and gingival tissue colors to coincide with the remaining teeth and your natural complexion.

Can you get same-day dentures right after extractions?

You can get same-day dentures right after teeth are extracted in most cases. While placing dentures right after extractions may mean you need adjustments as your mouth heals, doing s can also come along with a few benefits. For example, if you are already wearing dentures as your mouth heals, the soft tissues will naturally heal to conform to the shape of the denture. It is always a good idea to take your dentures out at night to give the healing soft tissue a rest during the healing process, however.

Talk to a Foley, AL Dentist About Same-Day Dentures

If you have put off obtaining dentures because you don’t want to have to go without teeth, working with a Foley dentist for same-day dentures may be the best solution. At Sand Dollar Dental, we can help you get the dentures you need in just one appointment. Reach out to the team to schedule an appointment.