What are dentures and removable partials?
Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth. Complete dentures and removable partial dentures are finely crafted and custom-fitted. If you properly maintain your dentures they will appear natural and provide a perfect smile. They also help strengthen muscles controlling your expressions that require the support of your teeth, rid you of pronunciation problems caused by missing teeth and aid with chewing.
Types of Dentures:
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures replace all of your teeth, upper or lower. Their comfort depends on muscle, bones, tongue, and saliva. Patients begin wearing conventional dentures after healing has completed from teeth extractions.
Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are placed immediately after teeth are extracted. This allows the patient to never have to leave the office without teeth. It can take months for your bone and tissue to stabilize after tooth extractions. This process is followed by a ‘reline’ of the immediate denture to improve comfort and fit. Many patients elect to have a new complete denture fabricated after the healing process is complete, usually 6 months after the teeth were extracted.
Over Dentures
Over dentures are a type of denture similar to complete dentures. The difference is that not all teeth are extracted and they use one or more natural teeth for their support. In many cases dental implants are used to stabilize it. This type provides greater stabilization during chewing. Over Dentures cost more and typically require more preparation dental appointments until the procedure is fully complete.
Removable Partial Denture
A removable partial is designed to correct the gaps in your smile when only some of your teeth are missing. Metal and acrylic attachments anchor the dentures to your natural teeth. The partial denture design is intended to maximize esthetics so clasps are not apparent when the patient smiles. The goal of the dentist is to create a smile that no one knows the patient is wearing a removable partial denture. Removable partial dentures maintain tooth alignment by preventing your remaining teeth from shifting. Partials can also help prevent your loss of more teeth due to decay or gum disease.
