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Caring for Your Dentures Center - Salinas, CA

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Salinas, California

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Caring for Your Dentures

Can I Make Adjustments or Repairs to My Dentures?

One or more follow-up appointments are generally needed soon after you receive your denture so that your oral health care provider can make any necessary adjustments. Never attempt to adjust or repair your dentures yourself. Never bend any part of the clasp or metal attachments yourself; doing so can weaken the metal structure. "Do-it-yourself" repair kits can permanently damage your dentures and over-the-counter glues may contain harmful chemicals.

Dentures that don't fit properly can cause irritation and sores in your mouth and on your gums. Be sure to contact your oral health care provider if your denture breaks, cracks, chips or if one of the teeth becomes loose. Oftentimes, he or she can make the necessary adjustment or repair on the same day. For some complicated repairs, your denture may have to be sent to a special dental laboratory.

Will My Dentures Need to Be Replaced?

Over time, dentures will need to be relined, rebased or remade due to normal wear, natural age-related changes to your face, jaw bones and gums, or if the dentures become loose. To reline or rebase a denture, the dentist or prosthodontist refits the denture base or makes a new denture base and reuses the existing teeth. Generally, complete dentures should be used for 5 to 7 years before a replacement is necessary.

How Should I Care for My Mouth and Gums?

Even with full dentures, it is important to brush your gums, tongue and palate with a soft-bristled brush every morning before you put in your dentures. This removes plaque and stimulates circulation in the mouth. Pay special attention to cleaning teeth that fit under the denture's metal clasps. Plaque that becomes trapped under the clasps will increase the risk of tooth decay. If you wear a partial denture, be sure to remove it before you brush your natural teeth. Cl...

Recommended Reading Related to Caring for Your Dentures

Dentures »

Introduction

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available -- complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures can be either "conventional" or "immediate." Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about 8 to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.

Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore a disadvantage of immediate ...

Emergency Contact for Salinas

  • In case of Emergency, call 911

Nearby Salinas Hospitals *

Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System
450 E Romie Ln
Salinas, CA 93901
(831)757-4333

Natividad Medical Center
1441 Constitution Blvd
Salinas, CA 93906
(831)755-4111

Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula
23625 Holman Hwy
Monterey, CA 93940
(831)624-5311

Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital
911 Sunset Dr
Hollister, CA 95023
(831)637-5711

Watsonville Community Hospital
75 Nielson St
Watsonville, CA 95076
(831)724-4741

Saint Louise Regional Hospital
9400 No Name Uno
Gilroy, CA 95020
(408)848-2000

Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center
2900 Chanticleer Ave
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(831)477-2200

Dominican Hospital
1555 Soquel Dr
Santa Cruz, CA 95065
(831)462-7700

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