How long does it take to get dentures? An Introduction to Nesbit and Cu Sil Partial Dentures

Dentures are removable replacements to your natural teeth that can be removed and placed back into your mouth. Full dentures fit snugly over your gums, and while they take some time to get used to, they help the wearer speak clearly and eat comfortably while improving their self-esteem and confidence.

Double nesbit partial denture (source: shinedentalgroup)

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Reasons to consider dentures

Replacing missing teeth is great for both your health and appearance. By replacing your natural teeth with a denture, you also get to support your cheeks and lips. Without this support, the sagging facial muscles can make you look older, plus you will experience difficulty speaking and eating properly.

Dentures are made to closely match your natural teeth so they’re not noticeable. If you’re looking for a smile enhancement, dentures can even be designed to fill out the appearance of your face and enhance your smile.

Types of dentures

Full or complete dentures – Comprise a full set of prosthetic teeth that replace the entire upper and/or lower teeth
Partial dentures – Designed to fill gaps left behind by missing teeth, and can be supported by the remaining teeth

What are dentures made from?

Acrylic dentures – Made from an acrylic base that closely matches the shade of your natural gum. The false teeth are set in the acrylic base
Chrome dentures – Some partial dentures are made using custom made Cobalt Chrome base, which has a closely fitting, sturdy, and lightweight structure.
Fixed or implant dentures – Dentures can also be anchored to dental implants, improving your comfort and confidence with the enhanced security.

How soon can you get dentures?

In some cases, dentures can be fitted straight after tooth extraction, in which case they are referred to as “immediate dentures”. You will, however, have to visit the dentist beforehand so they can take impressions and measurements of your mouth.

Immediate dentures allow you to maintain your smile and function after tooth loss, while your gums are healing. However, the underlying bone and gum tissue continues to shrink over time, especially during the first several months after tooth removal. If this happens, your immediate dentures may need adjusting, relining, and possibly replacing.

Alternatively, your dentist may recommend that you wait for your gums to heal before getting your dentures to ensure a better fit.

What are Nesbit Partial Dentures?

When you want to replace missing teeth, you can use one of several techniques, including a permanent bridge, dental implant, or removable partial denture. The latter option was sometimes considered impractical owing to its high cost, but not anymore.

Nesbit dentures are a modification of conventional removable partial dentures used to replace one to three lost back teeth on the same side of the upper or lower arch. They provide a low cost option that employs newer technology to replace missing teeth, whereby metal clasps are fitted around supporting teeth on either side of the gap, to keep the denture from settling into your gum tissue. The result is a much smaller and more comfortable prosthetic compared to the standard partial denture.

Single dlexible nesbit partial

How are Nesbit partials installed?

It takes only two short visits to complete the installation of Nesbit dentures. The first visit usually involves getting dental impressions that are then sent to the laboratory. There is no teeth drilling or anaesthesia required, and the cost is considerably lower than that of a permanent bridge or dental implant.

In many cases today, the dentist uses nylon or acrylic-vinyl material on the entire denture, instead of metal clasps, to give the patient a more realistic experience. The material is light, has good retention capabilities, and makes it easier for the patient to get used to (takes about 1-2 weeks).

When should you get a Nesbit denture?

After a tooth extraction, patients may have to wait a little longer before getting an implant placement if a considerable amount of bone loss has occurred. They may also not necessarily be interested in getting an implant. In such cases, it is advisable to replace the tooth temporarily, or opt for a removable long-term solution, such as a Nesbit denture.

Since there is no connecting metal or plastic below the lower front teeth or across the roof of the mouth to connect to the other side of the jaw, Nesbit dentures are often used as a temporary replacement as patients wait for implant restoration. This means that there is no bilateral support from the other side of the mouth to stop damaging forces from impacting the teeth supporting the Nesbit. So, it should be short-term to avoid damaging adjacent teeth.

How are Cu Sil Dentures fitted?

Partial dentures are used by patients missing a few teeth on their upper or lower arch, whereby there are gaps for the remaining teeth to fit through. Basically, Cu-Sil Dentures come with holes through which the remaining teeth pass through. The holes are surrounded by gaskets of stable silicone rubber that hug your natural teeth and allow the rest of the partial denture to rest against the gums. As such, retention is provided by both suction on the gums and mechanical stability provided by the firmness of remaining natural teeth.

Source: Coronado Dental

Why don't people like Cu Sil Partial Dentures?

Despite the seemingly practical nature of Cu-Sil partial Dentures, they should not be your first solution for missing teeth, for several reasons:

First, the procedure is not recommended for patients with multiple, evenly distributed, and stable natural teeth, though it can be used for situations where the natural teeth are on the same side of the arch.

Second, the lower dentures are prone to fracture when ground against the upper, natural teeth. Cu-Sil Dentures are mainly fitted on the lower arch for patients with an already weak dental structure, and the remaining teeth are expected to eventually get lost, in the short-term. This means that you will keep returning to the dentist for more prosthetics, translating to higher costs.

Third, this denture takes much longer to get reclined – several days compared to several hours for regular dentures – because they are fabricated in a specialty lab. The fact that the denture cannot be made in a regular lab means that any corrections may take longer than necessary, within which period your dental health and general wellbeing will be affected.

Need to find out more about dentures?

For any questions on dentures or our services, please contact your dental office today.