Dentures

Dentures in North York, ON

A denture is a prosthesis worn in the mouth to replace missing teeth and gums. Dentures can be full (complete) dentures, meaning that there are no remaining teeth in an arch, or they can be partial dentures, which replace one or more missing teeth in an arch. Full (complete) dentures are still removable and can be supported by the soft tissues in the mouth or clipped onto implants for support.

Partial dentures usually clip onto some teeth in that arch to help retain them. Partial dentures can also be clipped onto two or more implants for better stability but can still be removed from the mouth.

For people missing all teeth in a given arch, the advantages of a denture are easy to understand. It is impossible to chew or speak properly without teeth or prosthetic teeth. A full denture allows people to chew, speak properly, and maintains a more youthful appearance of the face.

When some teeth are missing in an arch, the absence of those teeth without prosthetic replacement puts extra wear and tear on the remaining teeth. The remaining teeth are expected to do the work that would be done by a full complement of teeth. So, these teeth have a tendency to break down over time. The presence of a partial denture can help spread out the forces, aid chewing and speech.

Dentures at Dr. Sara Shiewitz Dentistry

All denture fabrication at our North York dental office starts with impressions of the mouth. From these impressions, our dental laboratory will fabricate models of your mouth.

For complete dentures, wax rims are made to fit these models. These are placed into the mouth and a record of how the future teeth will bite together is taken. This goes back to the dental laboratory, for the prosthetic teeth to be set up in the wax. You will help choose an appropriate and pleasing shade and shape of the teeth. The denture is then tried in, with the teeth set up in wax, and the bite and aesthetics are evaluated. Once you and Dr. Shiewitz are satisfied, the models and rims are returned to the laboratory for completion of the dentures.

For partial dentures that will have a cast metal frame, this frame will be tried in to ensure fit before the denture is completed.

Your New Life with Dentures

After the finished dentures are inserted into the mouth, there is an accommodation period, especially if you have never had a denture before. It takes time to get used to a denture. Chewing and speech will improve over the course of about a month. It is advised to start eating soft food until the muscles in the tongue, cheeks, and lips learn to function with the denture in place. Everyone adapts at a different pace.

During the first few weeks, the denture will start to settle into place, causing pressure areas that can become sore. These areas of the denture will have to be trimmed or “relieved.” This process of settling can take over a month or even longer if teeth were recently extracted. This period of settling, pressure area development, and the need to relieve the corresponding area inside the denture is totally normal and expected.

Dentures should be cleaned daily with an antibacterial, non-abrasive cleaner, and stored in cool, clean water overnight. Dr. Shiewitz recommends Fresh Cleanse by Polident as a denture cleaner, to be used with a designated toothbrush.  


Dr. Sara Shiewitz Dentistry offers high quality, custom-fabricated partial and complete dentures for all your tooth replacement needs. Call our North York, ON dental office today at (416) 223-4181 to schedule a dentures consultation. 

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Our Regular Schedule

WINTER HOURS (October to April)

Monday:

ONE MONDAY PER MONTH, 10 AM TO 6 PM

Tuesday:

10:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

NOON TILL 8 PM

Thursday:

10:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

ALTERNATE FRIDAYS 10 AM TO 2 PM

Saturday:

ALTERNATE SATURDAYS 10 AM TO 6 PM

Sunday:

Closed

SUMMER HOURS (April to October)

Monday:

ONE MONDAY PER MONTH, 10 AM TO 6 PM

Tuesday:

10:00 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

NOON TILL 8 PM

Thursday:

10:00 am-6:00 pm

Friday:

ALTERNATE FRIDAYS 10 AM TO 2 PM

Saturday:

ALTERNATE SATURDAYS 10 AM TO 6 PM

Sunday:

Closed