Denture treatment
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Denture treatment
Hamille Tokyo Dental Office
When you lose a tooth to tooth decay or periodontal disease, dentures are one of the common ways to replace it, but many people struggle with problems such as dentures that come loose easily, a strong sense of a foreign object, or pain when chewing.
If you carry on using dentures that do not fit well, the gums under them and your remaining teeth bear an increasing load. This can injure the gums, cause polyps to form, make mouth ulcers more likely, and even lead to further tooth loss. The effects are not limited to the mouth: an incorrect bite can also affect the muscles and joints throughout the body, and chewing food incompletely can hinder digestion and absorption, affecting your overall health. With your general health in mind, we are committed to making dentures that fit each patient properly, and to maintaining them so that your dentures last as long as possible. If dentures are a concern for you, please feel free to ask us at any time.
Overview of denture treatment
When you lose a tooth to tooth decay or periodontal disease, dentures are one of the common ways to replace it, but many people struggle with problems such as dentures that come loose easily, a strong sense of a foreign object, or pain when chewing. If you carry on using dentures that do not fit well, the gums under them and your remaining teeth bear an increasing load. This can injure the gums, cause polyps to form, make mouth ulcers more likely, and even lead to further tooth loss. The effects are not limited to the mouth: an incorrect bite can also affect the muscles and joints throughout the body, and chewing food incompletely can hinder digestion and absorption, affecting your overall health. With your general health in mind, we are committed to making dentures that fit each patient properly, and to maintaining them so that your dentures last as long as possible. If dentures are a concern for you, please feel free to ask us at any time.
Types of dentures
① Insurance-covered (resin base) / self-pay (clasp-free dentures, titanium base, cobalt-chrome base)
② Partial dentures / complete (full) dentures — dentures come in several types depending on how they are classified.
Advantages and disadvantages of dentures
Advantages
Treatment takes relatively few visits and a short time, and you can take dentures in and out yourself, which helps keep your mouth clean. They involve no surgery, though they can sometimes put a strain on the soft tissue and your remaining teeth.
Disadvantages
They take some time to get used to, chewing strength is hard to fully restore, and putting them in and taking them out can be a nuisance.
How to use and care for dentures
- When you start wearing dentures, begin with soft foods and move on to harder foods gradually.
- Take your dentures out before bed.
- Clean them by brushing gently under running water. (Brushing with toothpaste or disinfecting with hot water can scratch or warp dentures, so avoid this. If you are concerned about stains, you can use a denture cleaner available in shops.)
- When you take your dentures out, keep them soaked in water, and when you go out, keep them in a dedicated denture case.
- For anything else about looking after your dentures, please follow your dentist’s guidance.
Pain with dentures
When you start using new dentures, the gums where they touch can easily become painful. Getting a comfortable fit usually takes several adjustment visits (typically 4 to 5).
Price and insurance for dentures
Insurance-covered
￥10,000 or so
Self-pay
￥90,000～
Warranty period (self-pay only): 2 to 5 years. * This varies with the material used and the case.
FAQ about dentures
Q1. How many visits does it take to finish a denture?
With few missing teeth:
① Take an impression and record the bite ② Fit
With more missing teeth:
① Examination and diagnosis (a simple impression to check the teeth, gums and bite) ② Impression (a precise impression for making the denture) ③ Record the bite ④ Try-in (you wear a denture made from temporary material so we can check its look and colour — much like trying on shoes or clothes) ⑤ Fitting (the finished denture is fitted) ⑥ Adjustment (we address any pain or other issues that come up in use; several adjustments produce a denture that fits well)
Q2. I’m worried dentures will make my speech unclear
At first you may feel a foreign object in your mouth and find speaking a little unclear, but most people adjust within about a month. Thinner dentures with less of a foreign-object feel are also available.
Q3. I don’t want people to notice I’m wearing dentures
There is a self-pay option called a clasp-free denture, where the clasps that hook onto your teeth are less noticeable. Please feel free to ask us about it.
Q4. Do I still need regular check-ups with dentures?
We need to maintain your remaining teeth, check the soft tissue where the denture sits (there can be damage even without pain, and in very rare cases this can be linked to oral cancer), and check and adjust the denture itself. As with regular dental check-ups, please come in every 4 months.
Q5. My denture has cracked — can I repair it myself with glue?
Dentures are made with materials and equipment used only by dental clinics and dental laboratories. Repairing or adjusting one yourself can put more strain on your teeth and soft tissue, and it often makes it harder for us to repair it afterwards. If your denture is damaged or does not fit, please be sure to bring it to us as it is, without altering it.
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