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Dentures are an easy and affordable way to replace missing teeth, but if they don’t fit properly, they can rub uncomfortably and make it difficult to eat the foods you love. There are several reasons why dentures may not fit, and often it’s because they haven’t been maintained correctly.

You should only clean your dentures in lukewarm water and store them in water to keep them damp overnight. If you clean your dentures in water that is too hot, it can warp them. Failing to store your dentures and water will allow them to dry out and they can change shape, and become increasingly fragile.

Over time, your jawbone changes shape due to bone resorption. These changes can cause dentures to become increasingly ill-fitting. It might also be that your dentures have reached the end of their life. Usually, you can expect dentures to last between five and seven years when properly maintained.

If your denture is ill-fitting, make an appointment to see us because we can help you. We can check the condition of your dentures. If needed, we can reline the fitting surface, so they fit more securely or remake them entirely. Alternatively, we can discuss other ways to stabilise loose dentures, such as using dental implants.

Dental veneers are an excellent way to help perfect a smile, hiding small cracks and chips in teeth or teeth that are extensively discoloured. However, there are some common myths about treatment that we’d like to debunk.

Myth 1 – Veneer Treatment is Painful

Receiving veneers should not be painful as we thoroughly numb your teeth before preparing them, making sure you remain entirely comfortable during treatment.

Myth 2 – The Entire Tooth Needs Reshaping for Veneers

Treatment is relatively non-invasive, and the dentist will only need to remove a tiny amount of tooth enamel from the front surface of the tooth, leaving the rest of the tooth intact. Sometimes even this isn’t necessary, and the entire tooth remains fully intact.

Myth 3 – Veneers Look Unnatural

Well-designed veneers should look perfectly natural, and we take extensive care to design and make each veneer in a shade and style that complements your appearance. When a veneer looks unnatural, it’s often because it is too big and bulky and in a shade that is too white.

Myth 4 – Veneers are Only for Cosmetic Purposes

Veneers are largely used for cosmetic purposes, but they can also be useful in covering teeth that may be chipped or cracked slightly, restoring the tooth and protecting it.

Dental x-rays are a very useful diagnostic tool. They show dentists areas that are invisible to the naked eye, including tooth roots and the contact areas between teeth. X-rays allow dentists to make a quicker and more accurate diagnosis and detect potential problems more easily.

While x-rays do emit some radiation, modern digital dental x-rays are far safer. For example, a set of four digital dental x-rays exposes you to about 0.4 mrem, whereas people consume approximately 5 mrem from drinking water each year. If you smoke, this exposes you to approximately 1300 mrem every year. Additionally, we take extensive precautions to protect you whenever you need a dental x-ray, including covering you with a lead apron and providing thyroid protection.

When you first visit our dental practice, we will need to take a complete set of x-rays to provide us with a good overview of your dental health. From then on, we only take x-rays when necessary, so a healthy adult may only need x-rays every couple of years or if you have a specific dental problem that needs closer examination. Children need more frequent dental x-rays because their teeth and jaws are growing rapidly, but we still only take x-rays when necessary, and the benefits far outweigh these minimal risks.