News - Part 101

How Dentures May Cause Tongue Irritation and Pain

Wearing dentures should be a comfortable experience that allows you to eat all your favorite foods and forget that you have dentures. Sometimes discomfort or irritation can be caused by your dentures, but there are solutions. Understanding what causes denture discomfort is the first step towards correcting the problem. The lower denture is often the most problematic for denture wearers, because it rests on top of the lower gums with no natural suction to hold it in place. The lower denture can cause pain if it shifts while you are eating or speaking, especially if it comes into contact with the delicate membrane that connects your tongue to your mouth. The floor of the mouth under the tongue is a very sensitive area. By nature this area was not designed to have anything come in contact with it except the tongue, and even the slightest touch can be irritating or…

How Smoking Affects Dental Implants

Despite many Canadian Government Health Department attempts to reduce it, smoking is still a widespread behavior in the population today. Generally, it has adversely affected the health of millions of people all over the world. However, at Canadian Denture and Implant Centres we are mostly concerned with oral health; smoking increases the risks of developing periodontal disease, peri-implantitis, root caries, and cancerous lesions. It is also known to cause stained teeth(and dentures), delayed healing of wounds after orthognathic surgery, periodontal procedure and extractions. The success of a dental implant relies on numerous factors which include: good surgery, good prosthesis, and proper maintenance. Studies show that dental implants typically have a high success rate and failures happen at a low rate and then only when there is a risk factor. The determining factors for implant success or failure include general patient health status, quality and quantity of bone, smoking habits, oral…

Why You Should Avoid At-Home Denture Repair

If you have dentures, chances are at some point, they will need to be repaired. Everyday wear will eventually take its toll. If you are considering fixing a denture problem without the help of a denture specialist, you may want to reconsider, and here’s why. Suppose you crack the acrylic or it breaks completely in two. Many people assume it’s all right to use a strong adhesive like superglue to hold it together until they can get to the specialist. After all, it’s just a temporary solution, right? Unfortunately, most commercial glues contain compounds that are toxic if ingested. Not only that, using permanent glue can result in a damaged denture plate, making it very difficult for the denture technician to actually complete the repair. In fact, they may not be able to repair it at all, forcing you to have to invest in another set. This is because any…

How to Correct Dental Implants that Sit Higher than your Natural Teeth

When you lose your natural teeth, the gum and bone in that area begin to shrink. Placing dental implants in such areas requires careful replacement of those tissues in the skilled hands of a denturist to avoid complications. The procedure is particularly tricky when performed in the front of the mouth, since an implant that is placed too shallow or too deep can create a cosmetic mishap – in the form of a long tooth and black triangles in some cases. The cosmetic concerns of poorly placed front dental implants mostly affect patients with a high smile line – when your smile shows more of your gums than usual. Such cosmetic failures are less noticeable for patients with a low smile line. So, how can this problem be corrected? It can be challenging to correct a dental implant that sits higher than your natural teeth without any additional work, because…

When Is a Dental Bridge the Right Solution?

A missing tooth can be uncomfortable; it can make it difficult to chew and eat, and possibly hold you back from smiling. Fortunately, a dental bridge can fill the gap, restore function, and keep your teeth aligned properly, saving you the pain and embarrassment of being toothless. There are different types of dental bridges, and depending on the position in your mouth the bridge is to be placed, its function, cosmetic considerations, and cost, your denturist will help you determine the right type of bridge. When are dental bridges the right solution? A bridge is essentially a three-part frame comprised of two crowns and a false tooth in between. There are three parts because the two healthy teeth on either side of the gap need to be ground down to anchor the bridge. The bridge then covers the prepared teeth (abutment teeth) so that the false tooth sits in the…

Denturists – Health Care Professionals you can Trust

When looking to fill gaps in your mouth, finding someone you can trust to help restore your smile is a big deal. It encompasses more than just your appearance or ability to talk. Your ability to enjoy your favorite meals is also at risk. Fortunately, denturists are one of the most trustworthy oral health care practitioners available. Why you can trust a Denturist for your oral health concerns Denturists are the only professionals in the field of dentistry that receive training in all facets of denture fitting and fabrication, from taking impressions to personally fabricating dentures in their laboratories. They are known to provide expert personal attention to all their patients, from the initial consultation to clinical and laboratory creation of a denture. Denturists work directly with their patients at every stage of their treatment process, creating a professional relationship that starts with a simple handshake and culminates in a…

What is a dental bridge and what are the types of bridges

Dental bridges, also referred to as fixed removable dentures, are made to fill in one or more spaces in your mouth left by lost teeth. Depending on your specific case, they can be supported by: • Natural teeth • Implants • A combination of teeth and implants How a bridge is done A dental bridge is so called because it literally fills (bridges) the gaps left behind when you lose teeth. A typical bridge consists of one or more artificial teeth (pontics) that are held in place by two abutments (dental crowns). If the supporting teeth being crowned are strong and healthy, they won’t need root canal therapy. However, parts of the teeth must be removed to create space for the crowns. Basically, your denturist files down the 2 healthy teeth on either side of the gap to prepare them for the bridge. But if your teeth are not healthy…

Is There Bone Loss with Delayed Implant Placement?

Conventional tooth rehabilitation treatments such as fixed partial dentures, removable partial dentures, and composite retained inlay partial dentures are associated with a number of problems related to stability and retention of prosthesis, esthetics, eating difficulties, and even psychological problems. Besides the risk of complications, these treatments also involve the damage of healthy adjacent teeth, plus they don’t stimulate the underlying jawbone to prevent bone loss. Because of these challenges, patients often suffer reduced self-confidence and develop psychological problems. Fortunately, implants have addressed most of these challenges, while allowing for immediate restoration after tooth extraction so patients can continue with their normal life without having to suffer the psychological trauma of being toothless. Immediate implants also offer the benefit of reduced treatment time. While implants help to prevent bone loss by facilitating bone regeneration, some patients are concerned that delayed placement – implant placement after the soft tissue has healed completely…

What’s the difference between Porcelain and Plastic False Teeth?

Dentures are made with either porcelain or plastic false teeth. These two materials differ in terms of durability, strength, hygiene, and other factors. Here‘s a list of how these two differ from one another: Bone Loss Acceleration Chewing exerts pressure on your dentures, which is transferred to the bone tissue underneath your gums. Porcelain is a dense material, which makes porcelain dentures heavy. This prevents them from absorbing enough force thus, accelerating bone loss. Plastic, on the other hand, is much lighter, and transfers less pressure to the gums and bone tissue from chewing, clenching, grinding, or tapping teeth. With regard to your oral health, plastic false teeth are better as they don’t accelerate bone loss at the same rate as porcelain teeth. Comfort Compared to acrylic teeth, porcelain is often associated with “clicking sounds” when the denture wearer bites down while chewing. Plastic teeth are not noisy. They are also lighter, which makes it easier…

Porcelain vs. Acrylic Dentures

As we look back on 2014, one of our top articles was “Porcelain vs. Acrylic Teeth”. This article sparked a lot of interest as for many years Porcelain teeth were the tooth of choice. However, as Acrylic teeth have advanced over the years, they do have some clear benefits over porcelain teeth. What are the differences between porcelain & acrylic teeth? Which type of tooth lasts longer? Are porcelain or acrylic teeth better for dentures? Are porcelain or acrylic teeth better for dental implants ? Which teeth are stronger? As Calgary’s leading denture clinic, we have very clear criteria when assessing denture teeth. Health : The most important, our patients health. Teeth should not put excessive forces on the bone or oral tissues. Appearance : Teeth should look natural. Shape, color, translucency and dimension are all important elements. Bonding : Many denture repairs are the result of debonding of teeth. The teeth and the denture…