30 Mar 2021
The process of building dentures has come a long way since wearing dentures became mainstream in the late 1700’s. While there are many different types of dentures available today for individual dental situations, there are two main categories that these dentures fall into. These main categories are traditional dentures and digital dentures.
If you are thinking about getting dentures, you may be wondering which one is best for your unique circumstances. There are three main differences to consider when comparing traditional and digital dentures.
- The Appointment Process
A significant difference between traditional and digital dentures is the appointment process. Traditional dentures require multiple appointments so the dentures can be molded, fitted, and adjusted to the patient’s mouth. This process can take anywhere from six to twelve weeks to complete.
Digital dentures are a newer type of denture that relies on modernized and standardized software, which has been specifically designed to streamline the entire process. Most digital dentures only require two or three appointments to fit the patient with properly fitting and comfortable dentures.
- The Fabrication Process
Traditional dentures usually come in two parts, an upper and a lower, which are handcrafted from flesh-colored acrylic that fits over the patient’s natural gums. The upper denture covers the roof of the mouth while the lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to fit comfortably around your tongue.
The fabrication process for digital dentures utilizes modern and efficient digital machinery. These dentures are typically milled out of a pre-shrunk, solid block of cured resin. By taking a digital scan of a patient’s remaining natural teeth and gums, denturists can now make digital dentures that suction better to the inside of the mouth and provide patients with an overall more comfortable fit. The tougher material also helps prolong the life of digital dentures as they can withstand more pressure than traditional acrylic dentures and experience less warping over time.
- The Replacement Process
While it is always recommend that patients take very good care of their dentures so that they last as long as possible, accidents happens and sometimes dentures get broken or lost.
Replacing dentures can be time consuming and irritating for the patient because the denturist will have to start the whole denture building process from the beginning. The dentures will again have to be handcrafted, fitted, and adjusted, which can leave the wearer without any dentures for weeks at a time.
Replacing digital dentures can take less than 24 hours, depending on the circumstances. The scans and models used to create the original dentures are already saved on file, saving both the patient and the denturist time. The digital dentures can be made without an in-office consult, meaning the dentures can be ready by the time the patient arrives.
If you are interested in learning more about digital dentures or want to find out which type of denture is best for you, book your free consultation with Olds Denture & Implant Centre. We offer free consultations so that our patients can feel confident that they are making informed decisions about their dental health. Get started today – give us a call at (403) 791-3303.