At Enamel Republic, denture fabrication and related surgical services (tooth extraction, full-arch clearance, bone grafting and pre-prosthetic surgery) are our specialty! I am very proud to say that we have won a Kitchener Record Reader’s Choice Award as Best Denture Provider in Kitchener-Waterloo for both 2018 and 2019!
I would be more than happy to meet with you for a consult regarding a possible transition to complete or partial dentures. We also provide immediate dentures as well.
One benefit of having surgical services and denture treatment provided by us is that you can enjoy significant cost savings while having all appointments in one familiar place!
Please browse our denture information below and for additional information, visit our Ultimate FAQ Guide for Dentures. Please do contact us if you have any questions.
Dentures are divided into two general categories: Complete Dentures and Partial Dentures.
Complete dentures are designed to replace all teeth in either the upper or lower arch. Partial dentures are an option for patients who have some remaining healthy teeth. Importantly, any remaining teeth must be evaluated for strength and fracture resistance prior to selecting the proper prosthesis.
Remaining teeth must be strong enough to anchor and support a partial denture. In general, partial dentures provide better stability and retention compared to complete dentures. Patients generally note that complete dentures may move slightly when they chew whereas partial denture wearers generally find their dentures are “locked in” and don’t move during chewing.
Book a consult to discuss Dentures with Dr. Kyle Hornby now. Please call us at (519)-576-8160 Or Schedule Your Appointment Online.
If you are looking for information about Complete Dentures in Kitchener, look no further!
Complete dentures have two main components or “parts”:
The pink acrylic portion of an upper complete denture covers much of the gum surface as well as the roof of the mouth. This extensive gum coverage can provide some level of suction and retention depending on the volume of jawbone and gum tissue remaining. The pink acrylic portion of a lower complete denture is smaller and features an open area around the tongue.
Because of this design, there is less contact with the gums and therefore less suction and retention compared to a complete upper denture. In some cases, individuals with complete lower dentures will opt to have 2 or more implants placed to significantly improve retention and stability.
Dental Implants are surgical screws that can be utilized to connect your denture directly to the upper or lower jaw. The implants can be covered with adapter components so that you can clip your denture directly into place. Implant-retained complete dentures can increase the retention of your denture significantly to limit movement during chewing function. Most commonly, two implants are placed in the positions normally occupied by the canine teeth. Advantages of implant-retained complete dentures include:
Dental Implants are surgical screws that can be utilized to connect your denture directly to the upper or lower jaw. The implants can be covered with adapter components so that you can clip your denture directly into place. Implant-retained complete dentures can increase the retention of your denture significantly to limit movement during chewing function. Most commonly, two implants are placed in the positions normally occupied by the canine teeth. Advantages of implant-retained complete dentures include:
Partial dentures are more complex appliances compared to complete dentures. Like complete dentures, they have pink acrylic “gum” and white acrylic “tooth” components. However, partial dentures also have metal components like “rests” and “clasps” that anchor the denture to some or all of your remaining natural teeth. Sometimes, it is necessary to prepare or adjust small portions of the teeth so that your partial denture can fit with better retention. Because partial dentures engage natural teeth for support, it is critical to make sure that remaining teeth are well-anchored, non-mobile, and fracture resistant. In some cases, the extraction of weak or loose teeth may be recommended prior to having your partial denture made.
Many patients want to know, "what do dentures look like?". Many people know dentures by another name: "false teeth". However, dentures can be made to look very natural. A well-designed denture will go unnoticed by friends and family. They'll think that you still have your natural teeth.
There are a few general tips for getting a denture that looks lifelike. First, you don't want your denture teeth to have an absolutely perfect alignment. Even those who have had their teeth aligned with braces or Invisalign or Holywood stars with extensive (and expensive) cosmetic work don't have perfectly aligned teeth. The reason for this is that they'll look artificial or "fake".
Capable Dentists and Denturists can make a beautiful denture with well-aligned teeth that still look natural. They're experts in tooth placement. They know how to get things looking great without looking fake.
The second suggestion for acheiving natural-looking dentures is to avoid choosing perfectly paper-white teeth. When patients pursue dentures, it's a chance to get a new smile and that's exciting! But many, initially suggest the whitest denture teeth available. While this can be arranged, it's not advisable because the denture ends up looking artificial.
So when pursuing dentures, consider something with well-aligned (but not perfectly-aligned) teeth that have a natural-looking shade. They can be bright but you don't want to go with teeth that are paper-white or you'll lose the natural look.
Denture Relines
Over time, the gums and jawbone that support a complete denture can change shape and contour. As the shape of these tissues changes, suction and retention diminish. Over a short period of time these changes are unnoticeable, however, over the course of years patients will note: “my denture doesn’t fit like it used to”. This is inevitable for all denture wearers and the solution is often a simple one – they require a denture reline. Advantages of a denture reline include:
Denture Repairs
Who fixes dentures in Kitchener?
Most denture breaks or mishaps can be repaired at a local Dentist or Denturist. Typical denture issues include:
Best practice is to describe the defect in your denture when you call your local Kitchener-Waterloo Dentist or Denturist. That way, they can advise you as to whether the defect is repairable and they can also estimate a turnaround time on the repair.
In addition to Complete Dentures, we also provide Partial Dentures in Kitchener. Feel free to contact us at Enamel Republic at (519) 576 – 8160, today.
Who makes dentures in Kitchener?
Dentures are typically made by your Family Dentist in Kitchener but they can also be made by Denturists. The advantage of having your denture made by a Dentist is that they can adjust teeth and fillings to enable better fit of a denture. Additionally, your Dentist is in a position to evaluate the effect of denture-bearing stress on weak teeth.
Sometimes 1 or more teeth should be removed and replaced by a denture tooth in your appliance. A denture can place added stress on your teeth so you want to make sure remaining teeth will be able to withstand forces from your Denture.
My existing denture is loose - can it be adjusted to fit my receding gums?
Absolutely. Over time your jaw may lose bone volume and it will seem like your gums are shrinking away from your denture. It may even start to feel like your denture is loose and you have gaps underneath.
Generally, you want as much gum tissue in contact with your denture as possible. This increases support for the denture and also improves suction and fit.
So how do you fill in the gaps to fit receding gums and jawbone?
A reline involves using soft putty to fill in gaps under your denture. The putty is placed and your denture is seated to mould the putty to your gum contours. Then, the denture and attached putty are processed and the putty is converted to durable pink denture acrylic.
A denture reline can reliably restore the performance of an old, ill-fitting denture.
Dentures in Kitchener: What is involved in relining my complete denture?
Denture relines can be conveniently completed on a same-day basis. During a brief morning appointment, you will have a highly accurate impression material applied to the underside of your denture and it will be seated in the mouth for adaptation to the gum tissues. After 2-3 minutes, the reline material will set and your denture can be removed for inspection. The denture reline can be completed at our dental lab within 5-6 hours. This process entails converting the reline compound to solid pink acrylic for durability and longevity. Your relined denture is typically ready for insert in the mid- to late-afternoon on the same day.
Denture RepairsWhen an individual requires extraction of a fractured or infected/abscessed tooth, the lost tooth can typically be added to their existing partial denture. The vast majority of denture repairs can be completed same-day. Commonly, if a repair is required in conjunction with the removal of tooth, treatment can be completed and impressions taken during a morning appointment. Our dental lab can make the adjustment and return the denture for insert/delivery on the afternoon of the same day. If your repaired denture cannot be processed and returned same-day, you will be notified in advance. Denture repairs allow you to adapt your partial denture to existing conditions without incurring large costs associated with fabrication of a new prosthesis.
Dentures in Kitchener: How much does a Denture Reline cost?
Denture relines typically cost $400 – $500. Some Dentists recommend a reline every 5-7 years. I usually tell my patients that their dentures will tell them when it’s time for a reline! Specifically, when a patient starts to notice a significant decrease in the suction or “hold” of their denture then it’s time for a reline. The loss of suction is usually caused by gaps between their gums and the underside of their denture. A reline eliminates these gaps re-establishing a proper fit.
Dentures in Kitchener: How often should you replace your Dentures?
This is a great question. I have met patients who have been told every 5 years and others who have been told every 10 years. The truth is, you may never have to replace your denture. Relines (discussed above) can re-fit existing complete dentures to increase their fit and hold.
For Partial Dentures, you can add teeth to them if you lose natural teeth. And if acrylic or metal clasps break, your Kitchener Dentist can usually arrange a same-day repair. For the most part, there are few circumstances which lead to the need for a brand new denture.
Dentures in Kitchener: How much do Dentures cost?
The final cost of a denture is variable. The reason is that your Dentist’s fee for making the denture is fixed at a set amount but the lab cost for time and materials involved in making your denture vary. I typically tell my patients to expect a Complete Denture to cost around $1,500. A Partial Denture can be made entirely of plastic or a more durable cast metal and acrylic combination. The plastic dentures usually cost between $400 – $700. The cast metal partial dentures typically cost around $1,200 – $1,400.
Dentures Vs. Implants: What's better for me?
It's really common for patients to ask us about how dentures compare to dental implants. These 2 options are very different. For one, dentures are removable while dental implants are not. A dental implant is fixed within your jaw. Because of this fundamental difference, dentures and dental implants perform in very different ways.
Dental implants can tolerate more chewing force compared to dentures. When you chew on a denture, it compresses the gum tissue below and gives way. It doesn't hold it's ground under chewing forces the way that dental implants do.
What this means is that it's harder to eat carrots, apples, croutons and other firm or crunchy foods with a denture. In comparison, dental implants will allow you to eat all foods comfortably because they allow you to apply more force when chewing.
So, dental implants would be the tooth replacement solution most like natural teeth. Dentures, on the other hand, function very differently compared to natural teeth.
So, why do people choose dentures?
The reality is that tooth replacement options (whether dentures or dental implants) are costly. Dentures, however, are far less expensive than dental implants.
To give you a sense of relative cost, replacing your upper and lower teeth with complete dentures is likely to cost you between $3,000 - $4,000. Replacing all upper and lower teeth with dental implants can get you into the $50,000 - $100,000 range.
Dentures move around a bit in the mouth too and this can affect our ability to make certain sounds when we speak. Dental implants, because they are fixed in place, allow us to maintain accurate speech.
Cleansability also differs between dentures and dental implants. Typically, you'll want to remove a denture after meals to clean the denture and also the gum tissues underneath the denture. Dental implants can be adequately cleaned by brushing and flossing in much the same manner that you'd clean your natural teeth.
It's important to take all factors into account when evaluating dentures vs. dental implants as treatment options for replacing your missing teeth.
If you'd like to read the Canadian Dental Association's information page on Dentures, click here.
The cost information provided is meant as a guideline and varies between providers. We recommend that you contact your Kitchener Dentist for information about treatment costs when pursuing dentures in Kitchener.
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