Dentures can offset many of the problems that come with ageing teeth. They can restore a person’s ability to eat and speak, while maintaining their facial structure. One thing they do share in common with natural teeth, however, is their inevitable wear and tear. Dental prosthetics may not deteriorate as quickly as your natural teeth, but they do require maintenance. Think of your dentures like any other tool you may use: a screwdriver or a sewing needle. Over time, it’s normal that these tools will wear down so that they aren’t as useful as they once were.

Living Their Best Life

The average lifespan of a pair of dentures is five to eight years, but that number is entirely dependent on the wearer and their unique situation. For those who want those dentures to last as long as possible (and who doesn’t?) it is important that they have regular check-ups with their denturist. This will help to pinpoint any impending issues and maximize the comfort and usability of the dentures.

A Natural Process

Dentures are worn down by eating and cleaning, but the base cannot adjust to the constantly shifting ridges in your mouth. This process will work away at your dentures, slowly enough that you may not notice. While this is completely natural, it can result in some pretty unsavory consequences if left unchecked.

Microscopic Changes

Worn down dentures will eventually cause your gums to flatten as well. This occurs because the bone is deteriorating beneath your gums. Bone loss is a silent process, often giving no symptoms while it is occurring. Your jawbone is preserved through the pressure of chewing, but once your dentures wear down too far, there is nothing to push against.

If you can’t remember the last time you had your dentures looked at by a professional, it’s time to come in for a check-up. Call the denture specialists of South Calgary Denture at 403-254-5000. We’ll help find ways to extend the lifespan of your dentures and, most importantly, the function of your mouth.

As one of Calgary’s top denture clinics, we take pride in caring for our patients. Our practice doesn’t stop at when we give you your new teeth; our work goes way beyond that. Here at South Calgary Denture and Implant Clinic, we want to improve your quality of life through your dentures. That means supporting you throughout the entire process. From your first consultation to final fitting to long-term maintenance, we want to be here for you. That’s why we offer unique services throughout your denture journey.

Over the lifetime of a denture, your dentures may experience wear and tear like your natural teeth would. This could include chips, fractures, or worn down dentures. Leaving these issues can cause serious problems, as such weathering. Dentures need to be attended to in order to maintain maximum comfort and functionality.

On-Site Laboratory

Having our lab on-site works two ways. For one, it allows us to offer you the highest quality solutions for your smile, quickly and easily. For another, it fosters simpler face-to-face communication between our staff and our patients. This cuts down drastically on time and disruptions, making your experience much smoother.

While-You-Wait Repair

Our goal is to get you smiling as soon as possible, even once your dentures are in and even when over the years if you are experiencing uncomfortable wear and tear. You shouldn’t have to suffer through damaged dentures—that’s why we offer while-you-wait repairs. Come into our office during open hours and we will have your dentures repaired in our on-site lab before you know it!

Complimentary Cleaning

In addition to our while-you-wait repair, we also offer complimentary cleaning of your dentures. Just like a cleaning at the dentist, our denture specialists will leave your smile feeling fresh. When you come into our office, we want you to feel as if your mouth has taken a spa day. And if there are any burning questions or concerns you have while you are visiting us, please don’t hesitate to let us know!

South Calgary Denture and Implant Clinic is here to help you through every step of your denture process. From expert prosthetic design to excellent client care, allow us to be your chosen Calgary denture clinic. Contact us today to book an appointment or to ask about our services.

Aging doesn’t mean that you should have fewer options for oral care. In fact, here at South Calgary Denture and Implant Clinic, we believe that our patients should be able to pick from a wide variety of prosthetic solutions. Denture implants are a great alternative to traditional dentures. Slightly different in structure, this option allows our patients a more stable and protective substitute for their natural teeth.

What Are Denture Implants?

A dental implant consists of an artificial root made of titanium. This root is inserted into the jawbone in much the same way the root of a natural tooth might be. Titanium is biocompatible, meaning that it can actually fuse with your bone naturally. Once in, the replacement tooth is attached to the titanium root. The implant acts as an anchor for the prosthetic. A denture implant can replace multiple teeth or just a few, depending on the needs of the patient. This allows implants to be highly customizable.

How Can They Help?

Having denture implants allows wearers to avoid the hassle of removable dentures. Patients are provided with long-term stability for their bite, while their new prosthetics work to reduce further bone loss in their jaw. In addition to these benefits, denture implants don’t restrict a patient’s ability to chew and taste a wide range of foods. This is because traditional dentures often cover the palate, therefore eliminating a person’s ability to taste certain foods. Dentures over implants are horseshoe shaped, leaving the palate wide open to taste your favourite foods.

Am I Eligible for Denture Implants?

You may be suited for denture implants and not even know it! If you are in good general health and have healthy gums, implants may be an option for you. Even if your jaw has shrunk, it may be possible to have a bone graft done to build up the bone there. Whether you need a few fixed replacement teeth or an entire denture set, don’t pass by without considering denture implants.

With dental implants, your biting force can be restored closest to the biting force you had with your natural teeth. Having a great smile can improve all areas of your life, and denture implants are one way to gain that grin back. Give us a call today at 403-254-5000 for a consultation, and let’s get you smiling!

The denture process can be a long one. It involves multiple appointments and adjustments that you’ll need to fit into your schedule. For some, this process just isn’t realistic. That’s why we offer same day dentures. Here at South Calgary Denture and Implant Clinic, we call this service Dentures In a Day.

How Does It Work?

This exclusive VIP service is available for our patients who have lost their dentures, broken them, or just don’t have time for multiple appointments. Our staff will dedicate an entire day to you, ensuring that you will have your new dentures by the end of that 24 hour period. Because we gather all our resources for you, the result will be complete dentures, ready for insertion.

Boost Self Confidence

Aside from taking a load off of your schedule, same day dentures can also take a load off of your mind. Being without teeth for any length of time can discourage you from attending social events or going about your normal routine. Even trips to the grocery store can become stressful and awkward when you don’t have your teeth in. Our same day denture service will ensure that you’re not missing out on anything.

Supportive, Just Like Us

Your teeth primarily help you to chew and speak, but they also support your facial muscles. Without dentures, cheeks and lips tend to look sunken. Too long without dentures and your facial muscles will start to compensate for the missing support. This could make it difficult to adjust once you finally do get your new dentures. Same day dentures bypass these problems by significantly cutting down the amount of time you will be without your prosthetic teeth.

Maintaining your confidence and your smile are top priorities for our denture specialists. Same day dentures are just one of the ways that we want to ensure you have the best possible denture experience with us. If you’re interested in how same day dentures could benefit you, call us today at (403) 254-5000.

At South Calgary Denture and Implant Clinic, we understand that dentures affect more than just your ability to eat. From self-confidence to overall physical health, dental prosthetics carry a large impact in our patients’ lives. That’s why it’s so important to offer personalized precision dentures.

The Personalized Difference

It is true that all dentures require some degree of precision, but personalized precision dentures take it a few steps further. Our denturists will take tooth material, size, and colour into consideration when building your dentures. Much of this is determined by your unique face shape and structure. It is then possible to customize your new teeth even more by adding in natural characterization such as slope and contours within the teeth. These elements all work together to make your dentures appear natural and attractive in your mouth.

The Two Step Process

The hallmark of personalized precision dentures is the two step impression process. The preliminary impression is a basic model. The second impression uses a slightly different tray which uses a technique called border molding. This allows the mold to reflect a more accurate and detailed model of a patient’s mouth. Regular dentures mostly require only the first impression and a denture specialist will build off of that.

Benefits To Keep You Smiling

This custom approach to dentures offers a wide array of benefits, ranging from the purely aesthetic to the effectively practical. Here are a just a few of the reasons that our patients love their personalized precision dentures:

• Well Balanced Bite: That extra impression helps to ensure that the dentures will replicate a balanced bite. This will drastically cut down on the wear and tear that dentures normally encounter, making your dentures last longer.

• Natural Smile: The personalized aesthetics mean that your new teeth fit your face. No one will be able to tell offhand that you even have prosthetic teeth!

• Easier Adjustment Period: Imagine having a new set of teeth that feel and function just like real ones. This will not only help increase your chewing ability, but may ease the denture adjustment period altogether.

If you’re ready for long-lasting prosthetic teeth that look and feel natural, consider personalized precision dentures. Contact South Calgary Denture and Implant Clinic today for a consultation, and let’s get you smiling!

If you are having your natural teeth extracted and having dentures put in, immediate surgical dentures may be right for you. They help to consolidate a few steps of the denture process without sacrificing quality or comfort. Because of this, they differ from regular dentures in some important ways. Here’s everything you need to know about immediate surgical dentures:

What Are Immediate Surgical Dentures?

The basic concept of these same day dentures is exactly what it says on the tin: you get your dentures immediately. As teeth are removed, artificial denture teeth replace them immediately post-extraction. This means that the impressions are made long before your extraction.

Why Not Just Wait?

The other option is to have your teeth removed and wait until your mouth has fully healed before getting your new dentures. Healing time takes approximately 8-12 weeks. Once all healed, impressions will be taken and dentures will be fabricated. This means that you will not have teeth during healing, and will have to wait until your dentures have been made before you can start eating and smiling normally again.

How Will I Benefit?

Aside from not needing to go without teeth for any length of time, same day dentures also come with several other advantages.

• Support Oral Musculature: The human mouth is not designed to be toothless. Having those teeth replaced immediately helps to maintain your oral musculature.
• Diminish Swelling: Having teeth overtop of the gums will help to reduce post-surgical swelling.
• Create a Barrier: Your new teeth will work to protect your gum tissues and reduce bleeding.
• Speak Sooner: With dentures in right away, you can begin talking and working at developing your speech patterns.
• Eat Faster: You won’t have to wait at least 8-12 weeks before you start eating solid food. Once the swelling goes down, you’ll be able to begin introducing more foods.

Immediate surgical dentures can help you get back to normal quicker than if you waited. If you are interested in same day dentures, call us today at (403) 254-5000 for a no-obligation consultation!

Denture Services for Assisted Living – Calgary has a thriving senior community, which is why it’s so important to have proper denture care for seniors. While some of our patients are able to travel to our office, many live in assisted living facilities and find it difficult or downright impossible to make the journey. To remedy this, we provide on-site service and consultations at assisted living facilities.

Maintaining Your Quality of Life

As we age, our mouths age along with us. Our gums and bones shrink at a high rate, making denture teeth wear out quickly. Neglecting denture care can lead to a diminished quality of life. Mouths can become sore, food can become hard to chew. Many seniors would prefer not to revert to smoothies for every meal and end up bypassing proper nutrition entirely. Adequate denture care will ensure that our patients experience the best possible quality of life for as long as possible.

In the Comfort of Your Own Home

By making visits to assisted living facilities, we can come to our patients while they are in a safe space. Not everyone feels comfortable having their routine upturned, getting packed into a car, and going to a place full of strangers. Assisted living denture care means that our patients can experience treatment near to loved ones and friends.

Appointments that Fit Your Life

We appreciate that several factors can keep our patients from coming to us. Certain health conditions or even bad weather can prevent a trip to our office. Even attempting to organize transportation can be stressful. We want to eliminate all of that. An initial appointment with us in an assisted living facility will look much like a regular consultation. We will assess our new patient’s denture situation and discuss a recommended treatment plan.

Whether you or a loved one needs new dentures or to have their current dentures looked at, you can bet that our denture specialists will be there to help. Our patients and their families can feel assured knowing that they are getting quality care. Call us today at (403) 254-5000 to ask about our denture services for assisted living!

Oral care is incredibly important, especially when you have more going on in your mouth than just natural teeth. There are certain considerations that need to be made while planning your oral care routine. That’s why we’ve put together an easy guide on how to care for both your partial denture and your natural teeth.

Partial Denture

• Preparation: Fill the sink with water or lay down a towel. Partial dentures are fragile and could break if they fall. Ensure they have a soft surface in case they slip.

• After Meals: Rinse partial under warm water. This will dislodge food debris.

• Brushing: Brush gently with a soft toothbrush or denture brush. Do not use a regular toothbrush, as this is too abrasive and will scratch the acrylic surface.

• Denture Paste: Use denture paste to clean. Your denturist can recommend a specific product for your needs.

• Storage: At night, you’ll want to remove your partial denture in order to give your gum tissues a chance to breathe. In most cases, you’ll need to store it in water or some sort of liquid solution to avoid cracking and breakage.

Natural Teeth

Once you have removed your partial, use either a dampened washcloth or a very soft toothbrush to gently clean the inside of your mouth. Make sure to wipe your gums, lips, tongue, cheeks, and the roof of your mouth. You can do this using warm water or a salt water solution. Brush your natural teeth with toothpaste as you normally would, taking care not to brush too hard.

Other Factors to Keep in Mind

On occasion, you may experience sore spots if the partial denture is applying too much pressure on one particular area. If you feel pain, it is always a good idea to visit your denturist so that they can adjust your appliance accordingly. Do not try to readjust it yourself, as this could damage your partial denture and cause even more discomfort. If you find your gums are sore, rinsing your mouth with warm water can help relieve them.

We strive to ensure that your partials are the most comfortable and functional that they can be. If you have any questions about how to care for your dentures, contact us today!

June is the month where we honour our fathers. Some of us may remember all of the sacrifices they made to help us out, others may be more familiar with their inexhaustible cache of corny jokes. Either way, our dads are a large part of our life. It only makes sense to set aside some dedicated time to return the love. If you dad is getting dentures for the first time this month, we’ve got some excellent ideas on how you can be there for him. Here are three gift ideas that your dear old dad will be sure to love.

Quality Time

In our busy lives, it can be hard to slow down and just be with the ones we love. This Father’s Day, make an extra effort to be there for your dad. Getting dentures can make some of our patients nervous, and you could be there for him by driving him around for his errands or appointments.

Stories from the Past

We are willing to bet that your dad has lived a pretty amazing life, chock-full of stories. Spend some time helping him practice speaking with his new dentures and listen to the stories he’s told dozens of times before. That practice is integral to quick adjustment and comfort in new dentures. And who knows, you may learn something that you never knew before!

Home Cooked Meal

Your dad may shy away from eating out if he’s not yet comfortable eating in public with his new dentures. So forget the fancy reservations and dine in for the night. After all, nothing is better than a home cooked meal with family. Make food that is soft and easy to chew. Your dad will appreciate that he can learn how to eat with his dentures in a safe space.

Those are just a few ideas of how to give back to the man who gave you life. From all of us here at South Calgary Denture to all of the hard working dads we know, Happy Father’s Day!

Getting dentures is a thrilling experience. Once they’re in, you’ll be able to flash your stunning smile and do all those things that you couldn’t before you had prosthetic teeth. It’s normal to be excited, but it is important to be extra cautious for the first couple of days after your dentures are put into your mouth.

Go Slow

Just like when you had learned how to ride a bike as a child, you’ll want to start off a little slower than normal. Don’t rush into a turkey dinner complete with corn-on-the-cob. Avoid hot liquids and foods. Not only could this risk burning your mouth due to decreased sensitivity, but it could loosen your newly installed dentures. Many denture wearers find that food tastes differently than it did before. Don’t worry, your sense of taste should improve over time.

Start Soft

Now that you have new teeth, your gums need to readjust to chewing and biting. On top of this, your mouth may be sore from dental work. Keep those factors in mind when planning your meals immediately after you get your dentures. The key for the first day is to stick to soft foods, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t be getting all your nutrients. Here are some of our favourite foods:

• Porridge
• Applesauce
• Pudding
• Mashed vegetables
• Smoothies
• Yogurt
• Juice
• Ice cream
• Broth

Spread Out

With dentures, the way you eat will be affected as well. Start getting into these habits as soon as you have your dentures and you will be eating naturally in no time:

• • Avoid using your front teeth to bite: This can cause dentures to become unstable and in turn, may make your gum line sore. Reserve biting down for your canines, otherwise known as your “eye” teeth.

• Spread out your food in your mouth: When chewing, distribute your food evenly on both sides of your mouth. This will create an even pressure on your dentures that won’t make them unstable.

Just follow these simple steps and you will be well on your way to enjoying your new smile! If you’re ready to take the plunge to find out if dentures are right for you, give us a call today at (403) 254-5000. We can’t wait to meet you!