Dentures & Partials
Here at Hometown Dental, we offer affordable dentures while using the very best material on the market.
Dentures are removable pieces of hardware used to replace some or all of your natural teeth.
If all of your teeth are missing or need to be removed, you will be given a full set of dentures. If some natural teeth remain, partial dentures are used.
Adjusting to Dentures
When you are first fitted for dentures, you may have to wear them all the time, including while sleeping.
This will allow the dentist to quickly find spots that need to be reshaped due to discomfort or irritation. After the dentures are properly fitted to your jaw, they can be removed at night.
Take good care of your gums. They need regular cleaning, rest, and massaging. A daily warm salt water rinse will help keep your gums clean, and a balanced diet is important for oral health as well.
Denture Care
Taking good care of your dentures is essential for getting the most out of them. It’s also important for your oral health.
- When handling your dentures, it’s a good idea to have a full sink of water or a folded towel ready in case they slip out of your hands.
- Dentures should be brushed daily to remove food and plaque, but don’t use toothpaste on them. Use a brush designed for cleaning dentures.
- Rinse dentures after every meal.
- Use a denture cleaner to clean your dentures. Hand soap or mild dishwashing liquid also works, but toothpastes and household cleaners are too abrasive. Bleach will whiten the pink part of the denture-avoid it.
- If you use ultrasonic cleaners, make sure to still brush the denture.
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- When not wearing dentures, they should be kept moist so they don’t dry out or lose their shape. Store them in cool water or a denture-soaking solution. We can advise on the best solution for your dentures.
Types of Dentures
Generally speaking, dentures come in two standard types:
Conventional dentures
Conventional dentures are not fitted until after the gums and jaw have fully healed from the extraction of your teeth.This can take up to eight to twelve weeks, and during this period, you will not have any teeth. Partial dentures can be used when only some of your teeth need to be removed. Partials function similarly to a bridge but are removable.
Immediate dentures
Immediate dentures are fitted before your teeth are extracted and can be worn almost immediately. Immediate dentures will require several more fittings than traditional dentures, as the shape of your jaw and gums will change during the healing process, but they have the advantage of immediately restoring your teeth after the extraction.
Denture Repairs and Adjustments
You may need one or more follow-up appointments for adjustments after getting your dentures. Do not attempt to make adjustments or repairs on your own. Bending any part of the clasp or metal attachments will weaken them, and DIY denture repair kits can permanently damage dentures. Leave it to the professionals.
It’s important for dentures to fit properly. When they don’t, they can cause irritation and sores on the cheeks and gums. Get in touch with us if your dentures break, chip, crack, or one of the teeth becomes loose.
Replacing Old Dentures
Due to normal wear and tear and the changes our faces, jaws, and gums go through over time, dentures will eventually need to be rebased, relined, or even completely remade. If they are cared for properly, complete dentures should last up to seven years before you need replacements.
Caring for Your Mouth and Gums With Dentures
Even without teeth, we still need to brush twice a day. Use a soft-bristled brush to clean your gums, tongue, and palate before the dentures go in and after they come out. Doing so removes plaque and stimulates blood circulation. The teeth that fit under the denture’s metal clasps should receive special attention. Plaque can get trapped under the clasps and put those teeth in danger of tooth decay. Partial dentures should be removed before you brush your natural teeth.
Get directions
1113 Indianapolis Road
Greencastle, IN 46135
Meet THE DENTISTS
DR. DENNIS KNUTH
PARTNER
Dr. Knuth is proud to care for patients right here in the community he calls home. He and his team at Hometown Dental combine continuing education with the latest technology to make sure every patient and family receives top-quality care in a comfortable, welcoming setting.
Passionate about dentistry based on a simple philosophy, Dr. Knuth treats every patient as he would a close friend or family member—always striving to deliver the level of care each person deserves.
A graduate of The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, Dr. Knuth feels fortunate to have learned from some of the best mentors in the field. Before becoming a dentist, he earned a degree in electrical engineering and spent six years working in the electronics industry in Cincinnati. That background gave him a strong appreciation for technology and precision, which now plays a big role in how he approaches dental care.
Dr. Knuth lives in Greencastle with Emily (Jones) and their three children. When Dr. Knuth isn’t with patients, you might find him riding his bicycle or on his Peloton trainer. Dr. Knuth also loves traveling and exploring new places with his family and friends. Some of Dr. Knuth’s favorite things are Bruce Springsteen, peanut M&Ms, cherry pie and yoga.
DR. TESS FUNKE
PARTNER
Dr. Funke loves getting to know her patients and chatting with them when they come in for visits. Its important to her to provide care for all patients, no matter where they are in their oral health journey.
While she enjoys many aspects of dentistry, Dr. Funke is excited to educate patients about dental implants and the ways they benefit oral health as Hometown Dental grows to offer implants here in our office.
Dr. Funke attended the University of Louisville for dental school and then completed a one year advanced training program in Arkansas. She's been transforming smiles with the Hometown Dental team since 2019.
When Dr. Funke isn’t with patients, you will find her spending time with her husband, Adam and their young son, Victor. Whether they are out strolling their neighborhood with aussiedoodle, Nelson or trying a new restaurant, it's wonderful to experience the world through a child’s eyes. Dr. Funke enjoys Orange Theory Fitness, cuddling up with a good book and will never turn down a good chocolate chip cookie.
