Dentures are a common treatment for replacing missing teeth.
These replacement teeth consist of acrylic resin teeth that are set into a rigid acrylic base. Made from an impression of your mouth, dentures are designed to sit directly on your gums.
The prosthesis uses this tissue for support. While dentures are made from impressions, there are some situations in which your mouth may not be able to effectively hold them properly in place.
In these situations, Optimum Oral Surgery Group can help to prepare your mouth for your dentures with preprosthetic surgery.
What is Preprosthetic Surgery?
Simply put, preprosthetic surgery is the preparation of your mouth for dentures.
Some patients require this type of surgery before receiving a partial or full denture to ensure maximum comfort and that the denture sits properly in place.
There are a few different types of procedures that may be performed to ensure the best possible results with your new dentures.
Do I Need Bone Smoothing and Reshaping?
In some cases, teeth may need to be extracted before receiving dentures. When teeth are
extracted, the bone could be left uneven and sharp.
For your denture to fit properly, these uneven edges may need to be smoothed or reshaped in a procedure called alveoloplasty.
The procedure is typically performed immediately following tooth extractions. The goal of the procedure is to prevent denture sore spots where the denture could rub the gums due to sharp bone under the denture base.
An alveoloplasty may also be performed for those already wearing dentures, but their prosthesis is still uncomfortable.
Do I Need Excess Bone Removal
There are some patients who have an excess of bone in their jaw. The amount of excess bone ranges from person to person, but it may need to be removed before taking impressions for dentures.
For small pieces of excess bone, it may be possible to fabricate a denture around them.
Moderate or large-sized sections of excess bone, however, need to be removed.
Common types of excess bone that are removed include exostosis, or excess bone on the lip and cheek side, and lingual tori, or excess bone on the inside of the ridge of the lower jaw.
When is Removing Excess Gum Tissue Recommended?
Some denture patients who have been wearing their prosthetic teeth for a long time may develop extra folds of gum, lip, or cheek tissue.
These folds often form as a result of dentures not fitting properly. Called epulis fissuratum or hyperplastic tissue, this excess tissue interferes with the proper fit of a new denture.
To ensure that your new denture fits properly, the excess tissue is removed. This procedure is typically done several weeks before making the new denture to ensure that your mouth has healed properly.
Following preprosthetic surgery, you will be provided with specific aftercare instructions that are designed to help you deal with common post-surgical issues and lower your risk of experiencing complications.
Once you have healed, your mouth will be ready for the placement of your dentures.
If You Have Any Questions-Call!
If you have any questions on preprosthetic surgery and want to find out if it is right for you,
call Optimum Oral Surgery Group at (856)778-8686 today.
