The Oral-Systemic Connection

Posted on March 25, 2020 by Classic Denture Center

For many years dental professionals have explored the links between oral and systemic health, and here at Classic Denture Center, we feel this connection is a big one!

Beginning as early as the late 19th century, researchers proposed that bacteria in the oral cavity could cause issues elsewhere in the body. However, over the past several decades, scientific study has helped us further understand these connections and added to the list of systemic conditions associated with periodontal disease.

Find oral health with a denturist in Portland OR

By the year 2000, the United States Surgeon General issued a report on the national oral health status. This report formally acknowledged the association between periodontal disease and the following conditions:

-Cardiovascular disease

-Diabetes

-Pneumonia

-Adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth.

The report also suggested that more research was needed to establish causation.

Experts have identified two mechanisms that could explain the connection between oral and systemic health.

The first is chronic inflammation in the oral cavity – this could hypothetically lead to an increase of inflammatory markers in the bloodstream and, in turn, add to the body’s inflammatory response or general burden of disease.

Second, the oral cavity may act as a reservoir for pathogenic bacteria that can enter the bloodstream and affect distant sites within the body. While this phenomenon, known as bacteremia, is not generally a risk for patients with healthy immune systems, it can pose a serious threat to immunocompromised patients such as those with HIV/AIDS or diabetes.

Many dental patients will resist treatment, especially when their condition isn’t causing them pain or other serious symptoms.

In order to maintain your oral health, it is important to take part in routine dental appointments. This will help with the early detection of both oral and systemic diseases. In turn making treatment as manageable and effective as possible!

Medical experts, including your denturist in Portland OR recommends two annual visits to the dentist as an important investment to your oral as well as overall health! Not only can you catch conditions in the early stages, you can also prevent future issue from popping up.

This is even more important if you have full or partial dentures. Regular care can prevent disease as well as the costly mistake of need to prematurely replace your dentures.

When you do visit your dentist, it is important to know that saliva can act as a powerful diagnostic tool, offering a window into oral and systemic disease, even in the absence of traditional symptoms. During a dental visit, saliva can be collected and tested for biomarkers of:

-Hepatitis

-HIV

-Cancer

-Osteoporosis

-And more.

Saliva additionally wards off disease-causing organisms such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi.

These are just a few of the ways that your oral and systemic health are connected, further research could show even more of a correlation. To learn more about your health, contact your denturist in Portland OR! We can help you develop a dental hygiene plan that can give yourself the best chance you have at staying at the top of your game.

Dentures: Determining Good Quality

Posted on February 24, 2020 by Classic Denture Center

This week, your denturist in Portland OR wants to ask you… Would you like to know the difference between a quality denture and a cheap one?

You might not realize how much of a difference it can make, but spending a little extra on those dentures that will be in your mouth for many years to come is worth every penny!

We see it all the time! A patient comes in with their lowest cost denture on the market. They are in pain, they are frustrated, and they don’t understand why they cannot get used to wearing their new dentures.

This is because those cheap, bottom of the barrel dentures are not made to fit the patient, they are made to cut costs… And those costs are not coming out of the pocket of the denturist. They are coming out of the cost of the materials and the creation of the dentures themselves!

When these patients come into our clinic, we always take time to explain to our patients that denture material and comprehensive patient care is of utmost importance when it comes to customer success and satisfaction!

So when you are trying to decide between our dentures and those discount ones, here are a few things to know:

Materials Matter

Dentures quality is based on the types of material used to make them. The base can either be made from metal, plastic, acrylic, and the teeth are usually acrylic.

Those low grade and inexpensive dentures that you might be considering are likely made from plastic. It is important to realize though that plastic dentures can damage the gums around natural teeth if not designed and cleaned properly.

The difference in the price of dentures can be also be directly related to the workmanship in crafting dentures and post denture care.

Cheap Denture

Your basic cheap denture may be outsourced to a dental lab. There, dental technicians will make the denture as per the specifications of your dentist. Often times, the dental lab will use the lowest cost materials in order to meet the price charged. The product will then be marked to cover their cost of taking the impression, administering the denture, and any post denture care offered.

Minimized Personalized Care and Adjustments

Another problem you might notice with that cheap denture is that once you get your dentures, you are shown the door. Once you walk out that door, if you experience discomfort or pain, you are expected to deal with it! As a result, patients may end up resorting to getting new dentures within a few months or a year later. In the long run, this doesn’t save you money at all.

Premium Care with Classic Denture Center

As your denturist in Portland Oregon, we deal with dentures on a personalized, case by case basis. Dr. Tanya Poleon goes out of her way to meet with you as many times as required to meet all of your denture needs! Your comfort and smile are the most important things to her and she understands that special care might be required to ensure the best fit.

At Classic Denture Center, we understand that you are uniquely you… Contact us today to find the comfort and confidence you need to face the day!

What Lies Beneath a Dental Implant

Posted on January 30, 2020 by Classic Denture Center

You might not realize it, but over the past few years, a great deal of progress has been made in implant dentistry. This is great, but it has unfortunately given rise to peri-implant disease.

We at Classic Denture Center are true believers in the saying that “it is true that you can’t prevent that which you cannot control.” For general dentists and specialists alike, this is a frustrating reality in cases of peri-implantitis, a serious problem that’s on the rise with an increasing number of implants placed annually.

Notably, official diagnostic criteria for peri-implantitis, which would be globally recognized by the dental community, have not yet been introduced. In fact, research on most of the features of peri-implant disease remains at an early stage. Still, clinical studies have shown a higher prevalence of peri-implantitis among patients who are chronically prone to the condition, have poor oral hygiene, or who choose not to maintain the implant site.

Tanya Poleon, L.D., your denturist in Portland OR fully understands that she can’t control patients’ personal habits, but she does want to give help where she can. One suggestion she has is to use products that promote osseointegration and hygienic healing for long-term stability.

To Rinse or Not to Rinse Before Implant Surgery?

Chlorhexidine mouth rinse is a well documented antibacterial rinse that has been shown to reduce infection and complications associated with dental implants.

A separate study concluded that chlorhexidine gluconate 0,2% mouthwash is an effective prophylactic material to prevent and treat oral pathogens in association with the implant prosthesis.

Antibiotics: Not Always the Answer

Antibiotics are a controversial topic in implant dentistry. The pre- or postoperative use of antibiotics in conjunction with implant surgery and its correlation with failure and success rates are yet another poorly documented area in literature, according to researchers. While the benefits of prophylactic antibiotics are well recognized in dentistry, their routine use in the placement of endoosseous dental implants remains controversial.

A 2016 literature review concluded that prophylactic antibiotic treatment for each implant surgery is not mandatory, however, antibiotics are useful in preventing postoperative infections after implant placement.

According to this study, the accepted principles for the use of prophylactic antibiotics are as follows: The procedure should have significant risk for an incidence of postoperative infection; the appropriate antibiotic should be selected; the appropriate tissue concentration at the time of surgery is necessary, and the shortest effective antibiotic should be used.

Getting a Grip on Excess Cement

Cementing crowns, bridges, and fixed partial dentures onto implants has become increasingly popular, but not without issue. Dental cement is one cause of local tissue inflammation associated with dental implants. Cements have been linked directly to peri-implant diseases and have been blamed for bone loss and implant failure. This is especially concerning considering that it often takes a minimum of three years for bone loss to become easily discoverable.

The main point of this guide was to show you the ins and outs of dental implants. W hope it has helped you make some decisions about whether or not they are the right choice for you! If you have questions about your options or would like to discuss those options with your trusted denturist in Portland OR, contact us today. We are excited to help you create the smile you deserve!

A Denturist’s View of Tobacco Use

Posted on December 27, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

You have all heard it and it’s basically common knowledge… Smoking and tobacco use is not good for your health. That said, you might not have heard about what it can do to your oral health! Today your denturist in Portland OR wants to show you the effects of smoking on your dentures and people with dental implants as well.

Back fifty years ago, people were not so aware of the risks and health issues associated with smoking or the connection between cigarettes and lung cancer. And over time, we have seen study after study showing consistent findings showing links to mouth cancer, gum disease, and tooth decay. It is also important to note that smoking cigarettes and the use of other tobacco products can actually cause negative effects to where the soft tissue connects the bone to the teeth and impacts the function of the oral cells and tissues.

With the knowledge that tobacco use can drastically damage your denture (or dental implant) experience, it is more important than ever to stop smoking if you can.

Here are just a few things to know:

Your dental implant failure risk increases if you use tobacco. Many medical professionals will recommend quitting smoking if you’re considering having dental implants.
If you smoke, you are at greater risk of infection when having dental implants fitted.
Smoking can damage the success rate of dental surgery.
Your healing time is extended after surgery for those who smoke. This is because nicotine constricts your arteries and reduces the blood flow to your gums.
Bone loss that comes with losing your teeth is often accelerated in smokers, which can cause your face to shrink and other harmful side effects.

Risks of Second-Hand Smoke

There are many things that can be harmful to your oral health, and tobacco use is definitely on the list for both adults and children. Second-hand smoke causes more harm than you might realize, for yourself and for those around you! All the more reason to quit smoking.

Second-hand smoking (or passive smoking) is dangerous to everyone, children included, leading to respiratory problems and other health complications. What you might not realize is that it can actually cause the formation of cavities in children’s teeth.

We hope that this information has helped you realize the harmful effects of smoking and has shed some light on how serious these issues can be. You may not always be able to see or feel the damage it does, but it’s there.

To learn more about oral health or have questions about your dentures in Portland OR, don’t hesitate to give us a call.

5 Surprising Tips for Increasing Denture Efficiency With Dental Implants

Posted on November 29, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

In many cases, adding dental implants in Portland OR can make your dentures feel more natural and help them function better in comparison to dentures worm without an implant anchor. This process will provide you with much more confidence and freedom.

Those who already have implants will find that they experience even more improved denture function with dental implants.

Why do dental implants help denture function?

In the case of replacing single missing teeth, your dental implant becomes your new permanent tooth replacement option. It uses a small titanium post that is inserted into the jawbone, serving as the “tooth root.” This life-like dental crown is attached to the post, creating a natural-looking and natural-feeling replacement for your tooth.

Now when a patient is completely toothless and has dentures, a specialized “locator attachment” is used in place of a crown. The attachment is made to anchor the denture to the implant, resulting in an easy-to-wear denture option. When you have an implant to serve as an anchor, your dentures function will more naturally.

Dental implants are being advertised every day, helping make patients more aware than ever of their benefits and accessibility.

Here are a few things to know…

1. Dental implants are quite often the best thing for patients who are missing a tooth or multiple teeth. An implant or implant-supported restoration could last up to 30 years or more, contributing to patients’ oral health and overall well-being.

2. Many physical and emotional factors lead to patients wanting implants:

Missing teeth
Bone deterioration
Improving smile or face shape.

From the clinician’s perspective, good candidates are patients who exhibit adequate bone support, good overall health, are not at risk for periodontal disease, and exhibit excellent oral hygiene. Risk factors to consider include health history, smoking, systemic disease, current medications and history, malocclusion, parafunctional habits, and even unrealistic expectations. Many risk factors will impact a successful clinical outcome if they can’t be resolved.

3. Tooth extraction is very technique sensitive, especially in the anterior. Care must be taken to ensure that sufficient bone and tissue are preserved to support an implant and a natural, esthetic emergence profile. If not enough bone exists to support immediate placement /loading, a bone graft can help support the soft tissue until an implant can be placed.

Whether disease, decay, or trauma has caused tooth loss, if a tooth can’t be replaced immediately, the surrounding bone may begin to shrink or resorb. Severe bone loss can make it impossible to place a dental implant later. A small block of substitute bone such as an allograft can be shaped to restore the ridge to its original form to prevent bone loss. Once the bone block is secured in place with titanium screws, additional bone material can be used to cover the surrounding area and create a more natural final shape.

4. Dental implants in Portland OR are supposed to last a lifetime. Patient education is the best defense for the long life of implant restoration. Patients should understand that an implant’s success depends on their home care as well as continued overall health.

5. Compliance may be aided by explaining that their oral hygiene regimen will be essentially the same as for their natural teeth – brushing, flossing, and professional teeth cleaning – although they may be asked to use special brushes and interdental products, low-abrasive or low pH toothpastes, and different techniques or irrigation technologies to avoid damaging the various implant component surfaces. They also may need to have additional professional cleaning sessions to reduce plaque and prevent periimplantitis, depending on their oral health and compliance.

Your dentures are designed to give you significant improvement to your daily oral function, but current denture wearers will let you know that they aren’t perfect. That said, once you get past the learning curve, you will begin to find that it’s much easier to eat certain foods or speak normally with dentures.

Here at Classic Denture Center, we do not place implants. We create your new dentures and place them over your implants. To discuss whether dental implants would be right for your oral health, contact us today!

3 Enticing Reasons To Stop Wearing Your Dentures While you Sleep

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

At Classic Denture Center we like to live by the saying: “Take care of your dentures and your dentures will take care of you.” Perhaps you have heard it before?

It might not be such a new saying, but it is definitely good advice! When you take care of your new pearly whites, you can improve how long they last, how well they look, and most importantly, how good they feel. To keep them in tip-top shape, your denturist in Portland OR suggests having them cleaned and checked regularly.

Another piece of advice we have to offer you is to stop wearing your dentures around the clock. What we mean by this is that wearing them overnight could lead to some major undesirable consequences.

Wearing your dentures 24/7 can actually accelerate bone loss in your jaw and over time cause your dentures to lose their comfortable fit. Bone loss is a natural consequence of tooth loss due to the fact that the bone is no longer stimulated to grow by your teeth during chewing, but accelerating this loss is not something you want. Dentures can’t accomplish that stimulus and the pressure they place on your gums and underlying bony ridges can make bone loss worse. Removing your dentures at night is one way to relieve this pressure and slow the loss of bone.

Dentures can be a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. These growths can lead to irritation, unpleasant mouth odors, and even disease. Remembering to take your dentures out at night helps deprive the microorganisms in your mouth of the prime opportunity to breed and grow. Also, taking them out offers you a great opportunity to clean your dentures. When people sleep with them in, they are much more likely to have gum or oral yeast infections and higher levels of proteins produced by white cells that increase inflammation. These infections could definitely contribute to other diseases in your body.

Sleeping without your dentures also increases their longevity. Your dentures already have to put up with a lot of wear and tear. You chew with them, talk with them, and they live in your mouth for half of the day already. When you take them out at night, you are able to keep up with oral hygiene and give them a break from the tough job they need to do. This will lead to a longer denture life-span and save you money.

In addition to taking your dentures out while you sleep, it’s obviously a good idea to practice other daily hygiene tasks including:

Removing your dentures after you eat and rinsing them with clean water
Brushing your dentures every day with a soft-bristled brush and dish or antibacterial soap or dental cleanser (remember, do not use toothpaste but do rinse thoroughly)
Remembering to clean your gums and tongue every single day
Storing them in clean water or preferably an alkaline peroxide-based solution

Your denturist in Portland OR believes that taking out your dentures while you sleep and following good oral habits will help extend the life and fit of your dentures. It can also help with your overall health.

If you want to learn more about proper denture care, please contact us today!

Sleep Apnea: A Hidden Disorder

Posted on April 30, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

When you think about sleep apnea, who comes to mind?

Many people misguidedly think that sleep apnea only afflicts men over the age of 50 who are overweight. While these things do factor into an increased risk for sleep apnea, you might be surprised to hear that so much more goes into it.

Today, your denturist in Portland OR would like to clear the air a bit about who suffers from sleep apnea and how serious this condition is.

A person who suffers from sleep apnea could be:

Male or Female
In any physical condition
Young, middle-aged, mature adult, or elderly

As a matter of fact, an estimated 22 million Americans suffer from sleep apnea, and a staggering 80% of these cases are undiagnosed. This means that you could be struggling with moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea and not even realize it. It is also important to note that between 1% and 4% of all children, including infants, are affected.

So what is sleep apnea and why is it a concern?

This is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts. If you snore loudly and feel tired even after a full night’s sleep, you might have sleep apnea. The main type of sleep apnea is obstructive sleep apnea, a condition where the throat muscles relax and disrupt the normal breathing pattern.

Sleep apnea can be the cause of many other secondary issues because the afflicted cannot obtain restful sleep.

Disease manifestations in the absence of appropriate, quality sleep can include:

Depression and anxiety
Dementia
Hypertension
Congestive heart failure
Nighttime heart attacks
Obesity
Memory loss
Atrial fibrillation
Impotence
Metabolic syndrome
Lack of energy
Diabetes
Premature death

What are the symptoms of sleep apnea?

The signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas overlap, sometimes making it difficult to determine which type you have.

The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apneas include:

Loud snoring
Episodes in which you stop breathing during sleep – which would be reported by another person
Gasping for air during sleep
Awakening with a dry mouth
Morning headache
Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
Difficulty paying attention while awake
Irritability

How is sleep apnea diagnosed?

Sleep breathing disorders must be diagnosed by a physician, and will typically begin with a sleep study. Once a diagnosis has been rendered, the physician can refer the patient to a qualified dentist who knows how to create the appropriate sleep device. Denturists and dentists work together in making different devices to treat obstructive sleep apnea.

If you think you or someone you love think you may be suffering from sleep apnea, time is of the essence! You never know, you could be one of the 80% of people with this disorder who are unaware they have it.

If you have any questions about sleep apnea or the devices you may need, please don’t hesitate to contact your denturist in Portland OR. Tanya Poleon understands the ins and outs of sleep apnea and can help you better understand various devices that treat the illness.

Diabetes and Your Oral Health: What You NEED to Know

Posted on March 27, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

Did you know that having Diabetes can cause a variety of problems with your teeth and gums, as well as your overall health? It’s true! You might not realize it, but being diagnosed with this disease may have detrimental effects on a variety of systems within your body – including your oral health.

Today your denturist in Portland OR wants to help educate you on some specific problems you may encounter if you have received this troubling diagnosis.

If you have diabetes, some of the most common oral health problems you might encounter are:

Gum disease
Thrush (a fungal infection)
Slow healing after surgery

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Gum Disease and Diabetes

Gum disease (also called periodontal disease) is when the tissues that hold your teeth in place become irritated and inflamed. If the disease is severe, it can destroy tissue and bone. This can lead to tooth loss. Young adults with diabetes are about twice as likely to get gum disease. In older adults with diabetes, gum disease is often more frequent and more severe, especially if they smoke tobacco.

People with diabetes who have poor blood sugar control are more likely to lose teeth than those who have good control. Research also suggests that treating gum disease may help improve blood sugar control and overall health.

Eating a well-balanced diet, practicing good oral care at home, and seeing your dentist regularly for checkups can help you to keep your blood sugar in the healthy range.

People with gum disease may not see any symptoms. However, if you notice any of the following, see your dentist immediately:

Gums that bleed easily
Gums that have pulled away from the teeth
Pus between the teeth and gums when the gums are pressed
Constant bad breath or bad taste
Permanent teeth that are loose or separating
A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
A change in the fit of partial dentures

Living with Diabetes and the Risk of Thrush.

Thrush is a fungal infection that happens more often in people with diabetes. Possible signs and symptoms include:

White or red patches in your mouth that may be sore and may turn into open sores
It may affect your tongue and cause a painful, burning sensation, which can dull your sense of taste and make it difficult to swallow

Regular oral health habits can help you avoid problems with thrush. If needed, your dentist can prescribe medicine to treat it.

Slower Healing for People Suffering from Diabetes.

If you have diabetes, it may take your body longer to heal after dental work or other bodily trauma. This includes having a tooth pulled or any other oral surgery. Be sure your dentist is aware that you have diabetes when planning your treatment.

Diabetes and Oral Care: What You Should Do

If you keep your teeth clean, you are less likely to get tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral infections. Brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste for at least two minutes each time. This will remove the sticky film of bacteria on teeth that can lead to gum disease. Also, clean once a day between your teeth with floss or another between-the-teeth cleaner.

Your dentist may suggest using a special mouth rinse and/or toothpaste to control gum inflammation. He or she also may recommend rinsing with a fluoride mouth rinse or applying fluoride at home and in the dental office to help prevent tooth decay.

Before any dental treatment, be sure to let your dentist know:

That you have diabetes
About your blood sugar level
Any recent problems with infections
Changes in your medical history
The names of all prescription and over-the-counter drugs you are taking and any change in the medications you use

Eat before you go to the dentist so that your blood sugar level is in a normal range and your diabetes medicine is already in your system. If you take insulin, try to schedule a morning visit after you have eaten breakfast or discuss the best strategy when you make your appointment.

If you need some type of dental surgery, it may affect what you can eat. Your dentist should talk to your doctor about the best way for you to control your diabetes in this case.

Practice good oral care at home, follow your doctor’s instructions for foods and medicines, and schedule regular dental checkups for a healthy smile.

These are just a few ways that diabetes can impact your oral health, and taking the above steps as a precaution can greatly reduce your chances of falling victim to these conditions. Your trusted denturist in Portland OR is here to help educate you on keeping your mouth up to par so you and those around you can enjoy that beautiful smile for years to come!

Contact Tanya Poleon today to schedule your consultation or to discuss any of your denture related concerns.

Dentures and Dry Mouth – Causes and Finding Relief

Posted on January 16, 2019 by Classic Denture Center

When you choose Classic Denture Center in Portland OR, you can be certain you are in good hands. Your new dentures will be handcrafted to fit your oral and confidence needs, giving you a comfortable and beautiful smile each and every day.

Once you take your new dentures home, it will be up to you to keep them looking and functioning great for as many years as possible. One of the factors for good retention of complete dentures is good coats of healthy saliva in the mouth. That said, we see many patients who have a dry mouth condition called xerostomia, often caused by a lack of saliva.

The function of your saliva is to coat and moisten the tissue inside your mouth. When this tissue gets too dry, it can become irritated, causing soreness and sometimes even infections. Without good saliva flow to keep your mouth clean, tooth decay and gum disease can be much more common.

Dry mouth can lead to problems such as cavities and bad breath, but also lead to:

Trouble with tasting, swallowing, chewing or speaking
Burning feeling in your mouth
Dryness in your throat
Cracked lips
Dry and rough tongue

Another problem we see with patients suffering from dry mouth is less comfort when wearing full dentures. This happens because the thin film of saliva necessary to help the dentures hold on well to oral tissue is simply not present.

Causes of Dry Mouth

The most common precursor to dry mouth is taking medications to treat other problems. Many prescriptions (over 400) and over-the-counter medications list dry mouth as a side effect.

Some of these include:

Medicines for allergies, colds and high blood pressure
Painkillers
Antidepressants

In order to combat this issue, it is important to read the drug inserts that come with your medications. In the case where dry mouth is listed as a side effect, it is a good idea to let your dentist, denturist, hygienist or physician know so you can discuss your options. You may be able to take a different medication and avoid xerostomia all together.

Other than medication, dry mouth has also been known to be caused by other factors, including:

Radiation treatment for head and neck cancers
Salivary gland disease (such as Sjogren syndrome)
Emotional stress
Chemotherapy

Dry Mouth Relief

There are many things you can do to improve your xerostomia, including something as simple as drinking more fluids.

Other ways to manage dry mouth include:

Chewing sugar-free gum or sucking sugar-free hard candy to increase saliva flow
Sipping water with meals to moisten dry food
Sucking on ice chips during the day
Keeping the air moist with a humidifier at your bedside or another place in your home
Using over-the-counter saliva tablets to increase saliva flow
Applying a lanolin-based ointment to dry lips
Sipping water often
Using alcohol-free mouthwash
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and carbonated drinks

One of the most important things you can do if you are suffering from dry mouth is to make sure to see your dentist or denturist regularly, and always let them know about any medicines you may be taking and any other health-related issues.

Classic Denture Center in Portland Oregon is owned and operated by Tanya Poleon L.D. Tanya is highly dedicated to giving you comfort and confidence through your smile and can help you achieve all of your denture related goals. Contact us for help with your dentures today!

Classic Denture Center in Portland OR offers Denture Repair Services

Posted on December 12, 2018 by Classic Denture Center

We are so happy that you chose to invest in your new smile with us! We know that if dentures are right for you, they can change your life for the better, and we love being a part of that process!

Now that you have received your new dentures, know that it is completely normal to need one (or more) follow-up appointments to have things adjusted and checked. This is because every mouth is different, and each one will adapt differently. Your dentures at Classic Denture Center are designed to be as unique as you are so that they will fit you perfectly and lead to a totally comfortable new smile.

If you realize that you are not adjusting to your new dentures as quickly as you should, or if you notice something that needs to be repaired, please contact us as soon as possible. It is immensely important that you never try to make these repairs or adjustments yourself because it could lead to costly or irreparable damage. We also stress how important it is that you never bend any part of the metal attachments, as it could weaken the metal and shorten the life of your dentures.

In order to keep your dentures comfortable and in working order for as long as possible, here are a few tips to help you avoid unnecessary denture repair in Portland OR:

Handle your dentures carefully: Though we do design your dentures to stand up to your lifestyle, they can break if you drop them. Try to keep a firm grip on them at all times, and even put a towel in the sink when cleaning to soften the landing if they fall.

Keep them clean: Taking a few simple steps will keep your dentures sparkly clean in both the long term and the short term. Keep them at their best by rinsing them thoroughly in warm water after each meal and brushing them at least twice a day. Remember that using a regular toothbrush and toothpaste can leave microscopic scratches on your dentures, leading to build up of pesky plaque. Be sure to use your denturist-approved cleaning methods.

Make sure they don’t dry out: Remove your dentures when you go to bed and leave them soaking in water overnight. This will give both your mouth and your dentures a break.

Avoid wrapping them in a paper towel: We know this is an easy trick that many denture wearers use often. That said, we suggest avoiding this if possible. Many dentures get lost or thrown away due to this practice! Your dentures are a part of who you are, so a safer storage option is the way to go.

As always, we recommend that you visit Denturist Tanya Poleon, L.D. regularly to catch any issues that could pop up. Catching things early can make all the difference in the life of your denture and in your quality of life. Denture repair in Portland OR can seem daunting but know we are here for you every step of the way.