Dentures

Stepping into the world of dentures might seem daunting, but with the team at Dr Ivana Bugwandeen’s family dental practice by your side, the journey becomes a comforting and enlightening experience.

What are dentures?

Dentures are custom-made removable placements for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. They can be full (replacing all teeth) or partial (filling the spaces for missing teeth and preventing other teeth from changing position).

How can dentures benefit me?

Apart from reviving your radiant smile, dentures:

• Improve your ability to chew food
• Enhance speech clarity affected by missing teeth
• Offer support to facial muscles, maintaining your face’s natural structure

What is the process of receiving dentures?

It’s a step-by-step journey, typically spread over several weeks:

1. Primary impressions
2. Secondary impressions & bite registration (if necessary)
3. Try-in
4. Re-try (if necessary)
5. Denture delivery
6. Review

Please note that not all steps are necessary, but this cannot be determined beforehand. The number of appointments depends on the dental laboratory.

It must also be noted that the process is not finalised once the denture is delivered. There may be pain or discomfort after the first week, and therefore a review appointment where adjustments can be made is necessary.

Denture care instructions will be given at the denture delivery appointment. Patients must ensure that they have received this. Please also take into consideration that Ixopo is an outlying area, and the dental laboratory is in Durban. Therefore, time must be allocated for courier services. Due to this, appointments 1 and 2 must be carried out before Thursday to allow for the work to arrive at the laboratory before the end of the working week.

How do I care for my dentures?

Your dentures will need some extra care to ensure they last.

• Clean daily with a soft brush to remove plaque and food particles.
• When not wearing them, store them in water or a denture-cleaning solution.
• Handle them with care.
• Regular dental check-ups ensure they remain comfortable and in great shape.

Will my dentures need adjusting over time?

Like all things, dentures wear out over time, and as your mouth naturally changes shape, they may need relining or rebasing. Regular examinations will ensure that any necessary adjustments are made timely.