Services

Consultation

If you or someone you care for are having denture issues or just simply want to have the dentures checked, we are here for you. A licensed denturist can visit you right in the comfort of your own home or at the care facility you are at. A consultation can be done to identify any trouble with your dentures and offer possible solutions.

The consultation will include:

• Discussion with patient and/or caregiver regarding denture issues and concerns
• Gathering and reviewing relevant medical and dental history
• Performing an oral examination which includes evaluating the current dentures, natural teeth and tissues of the mouth.
• Communication of denture related issues to patient and/or caregiver
• Communication of possible treatment options to patient and/or caregiver

Knowing what denture related issues you have and what the available treatment options are, along with the associated costs, are paramount in order to make an informed decision for what is best for you. It is also important to know that often treatment can begin at the consultation appointment should you choose to go ahead with it.

To set up an appointment, fill out the form on the page or call us!

New Dentures

If your dentures are more than 5 years old, are very loose, have worn out denture teeth, and you find that you are having difficulty chewing, speaking, and smiling with confidence, then it may be time to replace them. It has never been so easy to get fitted for new dentures. We come directly to you in the comfort of your own home or care facility.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are made for those who are missing all of their natural teeth on the upper gum, lower gum, or both. Often called ‘full’ dentures, complete dentures are custom made for the patient as each mouth is unique in shape and form. Depending on the circumstances, it usually requires 3-5 appointments from start to finish. Complete dentures stay in place with suction and/or the use of denture adhesives but are designed to be removeable to clean and while sleeping. The typical lifespan of a new set of complete dentures is 5-7 years but could be more or less depending on the situation.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are made for those who are missing some but not all their natural teeth on the upper gum, lower gum, or both. They are custom made for the patient as no two mouths are alike in shape and form. Depending on circumstances, it can take anywhere between 2-5 appointments from start to finish. Most partial dentures have clasps that grab onto the adjacent teeth to help secure them in place but are designed to be removed for cleaning and while sleeping. They are designed to work harmoniously with the patient’s existing natural teeth in appearance and function. The lifespan of a partial denture is typically 5-7 years but can be higher or lower depending on the circumstances. There are generally two types of partial dentures, acrylic and cast (metal frame).

Acrylic Partial Denture

This partial denture is considered as a basic type denture although it will work perfectly fine and well in most circumstances.

• Advantages
  • Relatively lower cost
  • Can be used in circumstances where the patient’s natural teeth are not in the best condition
  • Tend to be less costly and timely to repair.
• Disadvantages -Tends to be more ‘bulky’ feeling in the mouth
• May break more easily
• Not as precise

Cast Partial Denture

This partial denture is considered the better type of partial denture as it has a metal frame incorporated into its structure.

• Advantages
• Metal frame is able to be made much thinner than acrylic and this denture tends to be less ‘bulky’ feeling in the mouth
• More precise
• Less likely to break
• Disadvantages
• More costly
• Can be more costly and time consuming to repair

Implant Retained Dentures

Implant retained dentures are a fantastic advancement in the last several decades in dentistry. Traditionally, dentures (especially complete dentures) rest in place on the patient’s gum and can become dislodged during eating and speaking. To counteract this, dental implants can be placed in the patient’s jaw. This provides a sturdy point of attachment for the denture. The denture is provided with the corresponding fasteners and snaps firmly onto the implants. With this system, the denture stays securely in place and patients find that they have more confidence to chew their food and smile.

Relining Of Dentures

When a person is missing some or all of their natural teeth, the bone that used to hold those teeth shrink over time. When teeth are first extracted, the bone heals and shrinks substantially within the first few months. However, even after the healing period, the bone is in a slow state of shrinkage. For denture wearers, this steady change in the gum slowly causes the dentures to become more loose over time. To counteract this process, the dentures can be relined. Essentially, a denture reline is a process whereby the denture is refitted to the gum’s present form. The denturist creates a new surface base on the existing denture so that it fits snugly and evenly on the patient’s gum. To do this, an impression of the patient’s gum is taken and the denture is then brought to our lab to be relined. The reline process typically requires 2 appointments. Denture relines are usually a viable option provided that the change in the gum is not too drastic, that the upper and lower teeth still meet properly and are not significantly worn out. If this is the case, the dentures may need replacing. For most patients, it is recommended to have their dentures relined every 2 years or so. There are two general types of relines: Hard base and soft base.

• Hard Base Reline – This is a conventional reline where the base of the denture is solid, similar to the rest of the denture.
• Soft Base Reline (soft liner) – In this type of reline, a soft cushion type base lines the bottom surface of the denture. It is used to provide added comfort for the patient.

If you’re feeling that your dentures are more loose than they once were, contact us to find out if relining them is right for you. We’re here to help!

Repairing Of Dentures

As well made as a denture could be, they do break from time to time. When this happens, you need a professional service you can count on to fix them properly and in a timely manner. If the denture is repairable, we will travel to you to pick it up, repair it in our lab, and have it returned back to you. It’s that simple. No need for you to travel and no need to panic! We’ll take care of it.

Types of common denture repairs:

• Split Or Cracked – The denture might be broken completely into two or more pieces or have crack in it that is a weak point where a future break could occur. Splits and cracks can happen if the denture is accidentally dropped or when chewing. If the denture splits or cracks when chewing, that could be a sign of problems with the fit or bite.
• Broken flange – This type of break occurs when the edge of the denture breaks off from the rest of the denture. It is important to keep the broken piece to make the repair as simple as possible. If the piece is missing and is not too large, it can still usually be repaired although it is a bit more complicated and costly. If the missing piece is too large then the denture may need to be replaced.
• Broken Denture Teeth – On occasion, one or more denture teeth could break off or pop off the denture. This can happen if the denture is accidentally dropped or when chewing.
• Tooth Additions – This is a situation where a person has an existing partial denture and had a natural tooth that was extracted or broke off at the gum line. The result will be that the person now has a space where there was once a natural tooth. If the existing partial denture otherwise fits properly, we can correct this situation by adding a new denture tooth to the denture to replace the lost natural tooth. If there are too many of those missing teeth that need to be replaced or the existing denture does not fit properly, then a new one will need to be made.

If your denture is broken, we are here to help. If it’s repairable, we will get it done so you can keep chewing the foods you love. If it’s not repairable, we can provide you with other options to suit your needs. Give us a call or fill out the form on the page.

Staff Education (in-services) To Our Partnered Facilities

Part of the services we offer is education to facility staff in oral health and denture care for their residents. Our goal is to provide staff with the information to effectively help residents maintain optimal oral health and denture lifespan by teaching the following:

• daily oral maintenance regimen and the reasons behind it
• how to recognize basic dental/denture problems at a simple level
• what to do when problems occur
• how we can help when there is a problem by communicating to staff about the rest of the services we provide

We believe that the education component is one of the most overlooked and underutilized tool we have to improve and optimize resident dental/denture health.

The information we provide is through educational materials and seminars. We work with facility schedules to provide the most convenience possible and minimize disruptions to staff routines.

For more information, please contact Yonet Blanch, our Director of Communications and Public Relations at yonet@directdenture.ca or 416-482-3700 ext. 201

Referrals to Other Licensed Dental Professionals (on-site or off–site)

When treating our patients for denture issues, we occasionally need to collaborate with other dental professionals to complete the treatment program. Patients may need fillings, extractions, or cleanings along with our denture service. Those patients can be referred to the appropriate dental professional. Depending on the nature or complication of the treatment required, the referred dental practitioner can usually come on-site to perform the treatment if it’s relatively simple. For more complicated procedures the patient may need to go off-site. We work alongside with a network of experienced dental professionals to be able to provide a greater scope of treatment for our patients when necessary.

We pride ourselves in offering the best service possible to our patients and we bring that service directly to you!