An overview of denture treatment
When teeth have been lost to tooth decay or periodontal disease, dentures are a common way to replace them, but many people have concerns such as “they keep slipping,” “they feel very unnatural,” or “they hurt when I bite.” If you keep wearing dentures that don’t fit, they put more strain on the gums under them and on your remaining teeth. This can lead to problems such as injured gums, polyps, more frequent mouth ulcers, and the loss of more teeth. The effects can go beyond the mouth: an incorrect bite can affect muscles and joints throughout the body, and not being able to chew well can interfere with digestion and absorption of food and affect your health. With your overall health in mind, we focus on making dentures that fit each patient and on maintenance that keeps them in use for as long as possible. If dentures are giving you trouble, come talk to us.
Types of dentures
① Insurance-covered (resin base) / self-pay (non-clasp dentures, titanium base, cobalt-chromium base)
② Partial dentures / complete (full) dentures. Dentures come in many types, depending on how they’re classified.
Advantages and disadvantages of dentures
Advantages
Treatment takes relatively few visits and little time. Because they’re removable, you can keep your mouth clean. They’re less invasive (no damage to the jawbone, gums or remaining teeth).
Disadvantages
They take time to get used to, it’s hard to regain full biting strength, and taking them in and out is a hassle
How to handle and care for your dentures
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When you first start wearing them, begin with soft foods and gradually move on to harder ones.
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Please take them out when you go to sleep.
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Please clean them by rubbing them under running water. (Avoid brushing them with toothpaste or sterilizing them in boiling water, which can scratch or warp them. If buildup bothers you, please use an over-the-counter denture cleaner.)
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When you’re not wearing them, keep them in water, or in a denture case when you are away from home.
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For anything else about handling them, please follow your dentist’s instructions.
Pain from dentures
When you first start wearing new dentures, sore spots on the gums where they press are hard to avoid. Getting a snug fit often takes several adjustments (usually 4–5).
Prices and insurance for dentures
Insurance-covered
¥10,000
(approx.)Self-pay
From ¥90,000
Warranty period (self-pay only): 2–5 years * This varies depending on the type of material and the case.
Denture FAQ
- QHow many visits does it take to make dentures?
- AIf only a few teeth are being replaced:
① Impressions and bite record ② Dentures completed
If many teeth are being replaced:
① Examination and diagnosis (simple impressions are taken to check things such as the condition of your teeth and gums and your bite) ② Impressions (precise impressions used to make the dentures) ③ Bite record ④ Try-in (you try dentures made from temporary material to check things like how the teeth look and their color. It’s like trying on shoes or clothes.) ⑤ Fitting (the finished dentures are put in.) ⑥ Adjustment (if anything is wrong once you start using them, such as pain, we work to improve it. Over several adjustments, we bring the dentures to a good fit.)
- QI’m worried that wearing dentures will make it hard to talk.
- AAt first they feel strange and you may find it hard to speak, but many people get used to them after about a month. There are also relatively thin dentures that feel more natural in the mouth.
- QI don’t want other people to notice that I wear dentures.
- AThere are self-pay options such as non-clasp dentures, where the part that hooks onto the teeth is hard to see. Ask us about them.
- QDo I need regular checkups even if I wear dentures?
- AYour remaining teeth need maintenance, the gum tissue where the dentures rest needs to be checked (it can be injured even without pain, and in rare cases this can lead to oral cancer), and the dentures themselves need to be checked and adjusted. As with regular dental checkups, please come in at least once every 4 months.
- QMy denture has cracked. Can I repair it with adhesive?
- ADentures are made with special materials and equipment used at dental offices and dental labs. Repairing or adjusting them yourself often ends up putting more strain on your teeth and gums, or makes them harder for us to repair. If your denture breaks or doesn’t fit, please be sure to bring it in as is.