地址
7/151 Cowper Street
Dickson ACT, 2602
营业时间
星期一至星期四 9-5pm
星期五 8-3pm
星期六 (隔周营业) 9-5pm
Dentures
If you're missing some or all of your teeth, it can significantly impact your ability to eat, speak, and smile with confidence. At Dickson Park Dental Surgery in Dickson, Canberra, we understand the importance of a complete and functional smile. We offer a range of custom-made denture solutions designed to look natural, fit comfortably, and help you regain your quality of life.
Our compassionate team works closely with you to create dentures that not only restore your appearance but also improve your chewing ability and speech. Let us help you smile brightly again!
What Are Dentures?
Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth and the surrounding gum tissue. They are custom-made to fit your mouth perfectly, allowing you to chew, speak, and smile more effectively. Made from durable, lifelike materials like acrylic and sometimes metal, modern dentures are designed to be comfortable and aesthetically pleasing.
While dentures are a removable solution, they offer a fantastic way to replace missing teeth and restore your facial aesthetics, preventing the sunken appearance that can occur with tooth loss.
Types of Dentures Offered at Dickson Park Dental Surgery
We provide various types of dentures to suit your specific needs and preferences:
1. Full (Complete) Dentures:
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What they are: Used when all teeth in either the upper or lower jaw (or both) are missing.
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How they fit: The upper denture covers the roof of your mouth and creates suction for stability, while the lower denture rests on the gum and bone ridge, often relying on muscle control for stability.
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When they're made: Can be either "conventional" (made after teeth are extracted and gums have healed) or "immediate" (placed immediately after extractions).
2. Partial Dentures:
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What they are: Used when you have some natural teeth remaining but need to replace one or more missing teeth.
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How they fit: Consist of replacement teeth attached to a gum-coloured base, sometimes with a metal framework that clasps onto your natural teeth for stability.
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Benefits: Fills gaps, prevents remaining teeth from shifting, and helps maintain proper bite alignment.
3. Immediate Dentures:
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What they are: Fabricated before your teeth are extracted and placed immediately after removal.
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Benefit: You never have to be without teeth, allowing for a smooth transition during the healing period.
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Note: As gums heal and shrink, immediate dentures often require adjustments or relining to ensure a good fit after the healing is complete.
4. Implant-Supported Dentures:
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What they are: A revolutionary solution where a full or partial denture is securely anchored by a few strategically placed dental implants.
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Benefits: Offers superior stability, prevents slipping or wobbling, improves chewing efficiency significantly, reduces gum irritation, and helps preserve jawbone density. These can be removable (snapped onto implants) or fixed.
Choosing the Right Denture Material
The material chosen for your dentures plays a significant role in their comfort, durability, and appearance. At Dickson Park Dental Surgery, we offer various options and will help you select the best one for your needs:
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Acrylic Dentures:
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Description: The most common and cost-effective type, made entirely from a strong, gum-coloured acrylic resin.
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Features: Easy to repair and adjust. The entire base that rests on your gums is acrylic, giving a natural look.
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Best for: Full dentures, immediate dentures, and some partial dentures.
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Cobalt Chrome Dentures:
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Description: Often used for partial dentures, these feature a strong, thin, and lightweight metal framework (cobalt chrome alloy) with acrylic teeth and gum-coloured acrylic.
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Features: Extremely durable, offer excellent retention, and are less bulky than full acrylic partials due to the strength of the metal.
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Best for: Partial dentures where existing teeth can support the metal framework.
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Valplast® (Flexible) Dentures:
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Description: Made from a flexible, nylon-based resin that is thin, lightweight, and virtually unbreakable.
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Features: No metal clasps, blending seamlessly with your natural gum tissue, offering excellent aesthetics and comfort.
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Best for: Partial dentures, especially for patients with a gag reflex or who prefer a metal-free, highly aesthetic option.
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During your consultation at Dickson Park Dental Surgery, your dentist will discuss the pros and cons of each material with you, considering your specific oral health, aesthetic goals, and budget, to determine the optimal material for your situation.
The Denture Process at Dickson Park Dental Surgery
Creating your custom dentures is a meticulous process that typically involves several appointments:
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Initial Consultation & Examination: We'll discuss your needs, assess your oral health, and determine the most suitable type of denture for you. This is also where we discuss any necessary tooth extractions.
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Impressions & Measurements: Precise impressions of your mouth are taken to create a mould of your gums and any remaining teeth. We also take measurements of your jaw relationship.
Impressions at Dickson Park Dental Surgery are now completed digitally, improving the experience our patients have. -
Wax Try-Ins: You'll try on wax models of your dentures. This is a crucial step where you can see the shape, size, and arrangement of your new teeth. We'll make any necessary adjustments to ensure you are happy with the aesthetics and fit before the final denture is made.
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Final Fitting: Once your dentures are fabricated, you'll return for the final fitting. We'll ensure they fit comfortably and make any last-minute adjustments to your bite and overall comfort.
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Adjustments & Follow-Up: It's normal to need a few minor adjustments as your mouth adapts to your new dentures. We'll schedule follow-up appointments to refine the fit and address any concerns.
Our goal is to ensure your new dentures provide comfort, function, and a beautiful, natural-looking smile.
Alternative Options for Replacing Missing Teeth
While dentures are an excellent solution for many, it's important to be aware of other permanent and fixed options for replacing missing teeth. Your dentist at Dickson Park Dental Surgery will discuss all suitable alternatives with you during your consultation:
1. Dental Bridges:
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What they are: A fixed solution that replaces one or more missing teeth by anchoring to the natural teeth on either side of the gap. These adjacent teeth are often crowned to serve as anchors for the bridge.
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Benefits: Non-removable, can feel very stable, and offer a natural appearance.
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Considerations: Requires shaping (and sometimes crowning) of healthy adjacent teeth, which are then permanently altered.
2. Dental Implants:
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What they are: Considered the gold standard for tooth replacement, dental implants are artificial tooth roots (usually titanium) surgically placed into the jawbone. They fuse with the bone and act as a strong foundation for a custom-made crown, bridge, or to support dentures (as discussed in our "Implant-Supported Dentures" section).
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Benefits: Permanently fixed, look and feel like natural teeth, preserve jawbone health, and do not rely on adjacent teeth for support.
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Learn More: For in-depth information, please visit our dedicated Dental Implants page.
The best option for you depends on factors like the number of missing teeth, your oral health, jawbone condition, lifestyle, and budget. We'll help you make an informed decision.
The Transformative Benefits of Dentures
Replacing missing teeth with dentures offers a multitude of benefits for your health and well-being:
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Restored Chewing Ability: Enjoy a wider variety of foods, improving your nutrition and digestion.
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Improved Speech: Missing teeth can affect pronunciation; dentures help restore clear speech.
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Enhanced Appearance: Fill out your face, prevent a sunken look, and give you a complete, natural-looking smile.
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Boosted Confidence: Smile, laugh, and speak without embarrassment or self-consciousness.
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Support Facial Structure: Help maintain the shape of your face and jaw.
At Dickson Park Dental Surgery, we're here to help you achieve these benefits and regain control over your oral health and confidence.