For health. For beauty. For you.

Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth and there are two types:

• A complete denture replaces all teeth

• A partial denture replaces some missing teeth and keeps the neighboring teeth from changing position by anchoring to your existing teeth

Dr. Tejas Patel, of the Center of Cosmetic & General Dentistry in Austin, Texas, has taken extensive training in the fitting and creation of dentures that offer maximum comfort and function.

Complete dentures
Complete dentures replace your entire set of teeth, and are labeled either conventional or immediate.

• Conventional denture –the patient’s teeth are removed and after enough time has passed for the gums to fully heal, the new denture is fitted

• Immediate dentures – no healing time is needed and the dentures are placed in the mouth as soon as the teeth are removed

Partial dentures
A partial denture replaces a group of neighboring teeth and is held in position by metal attachments to the surrounding natural teeth.

Advantages of dentures

• Dentures provide you with a strong chewing surface
• They improve speech, which is sometimes slurred or unclear when several teeth are missing
• They prevent the sunken cheek look that comes from having missing teeth
• They hold your remaining natural teeth in their proper positions
• They’re long-lasting when taken care of properly
• They enhance your smile

The complete denture process, including removing any unhealthy teeth and fitting, generally takes a few months.

Adjusting to dentures
There’s usually a period of adjustment while you learn to eat and speak with your new dentures.

• Your dentist will give you instructions about how long to wear them and tips on how to make the transition.

Sometimes there may be sores in the mouth, or some irritation, but this usually can be adjusted to enhance the comfort and fit.

Dentures are long-lasting, but as we age, our mouth changes. So at some point, the dentures may become ill-fitting and need to be replaced.

As you become used to the dentures, your speaking and eating activities will become more comfortable.

Denture care
Dentures need to be handled carefully. They should be brushed daily to remove food deposits and plaque and to prevent staining. It's best to use a brush specially designed for cleaning dentures.

If you ’re interested in the world-class dentures placed in Dr. Patel’s office, please schedule a complimentary consultation with Dr. Patel, through our treatment coordinator.