Dentures
Should I consider Dentures?
If you’ve lost all, or some, of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay or injury, replacing the missing teeth with removable dental appliances, dentures, may be good choice. Dentures make it easier to eat, speak better and improve your appearance than being without teeth.
There are several different types of dentures that are used depending on the circumstances.
- Conventional full dentures are used when all the teeth are missing. Full dentures are usually made of acrylic resin base with composite resin teeth. Sometimes for tighter fitting dentures, dental implants can be used to secure the dentures.
- Partial removable dentures, sometimes referred to as removable bridges, are removable appliances that replace missing teeth while some natural teeth are still present. The partial denture may be made with a resin base, or a metal base with teeth attached with acrylic resin. Usually there are metal clasps that hook onto some of the remaining natural teeth to keep the partial tight in the mouth. In most cases the metal base partial denture is more stable, fits better and lasts longer.
- Immediate dentures are dentures that are inserted the same day the teeth are removed. The number of adjustments and discomfort involved are more than with conventional dentures due to the healing involved with the extracted teeth. It is not unusual to have the dentures relined or remade after healing is done in 3-6 months.
- Sometimes a full, or partial, denture can be made may attaches to tooth roots or implants. The tooth root or implant has a small attachment in it and a corresponding attachment is placed in the denture. This is called an overdenture. The major advantages of the overdenture are the tight fit and excellent stability.