Partial and Full Dentures

---

WHAT ARE DENTURES?
 

A Denture, commonly called “false teeth”, is a custom-made removable replacement for multiple missing teeth. Full dentures replace most or all of your teeth, and partial dentures replace one or more missing teeth. The benefits of having dentures include:

· Support for facial muscles and lips to keep them from sagging or receding, which in turn helps make you look younger

· Facial muscle and lip support also leads to improved speech

· Enables you to eat properly, thus improving your health

WHY DO I NEED DENTURES?
 

Full dentures may be prescribed by your dentist if you have lost, or are about to lose, all of your teeth as a result of disease, decay, injury, or surgery.
 

TYPES OF DENTURES
 

There are two main types of full dentures, conventional and immediate.
 

CONVENTIONAL DENTURES:

· Fabricated and placed in the patient’s mouth after all or most teeth have been removed and tissues have healed – several months of healing may be necessary if tooth extraction is required

· Can replace all of your teeth on your upper arch, lower arch or both

· Can replace most of your teeth, which means an over denture is fabricated to fit over one or more natural teeth or dental implants for support

IMMEDIATE DENTURES:

· Inserted in the patient’s mouth as soon as any remaining teeth are removed

· Allows the wearer to have teeth during the healing period

· Can replace all of your teeth on your upper arch, lower arch or both

Dentures are custom made in a dental laboratory from impressions taken of your mouth. With proper care and good oral hygiene, full dentures can last 5-10 years. Over a period of time your mouth naturally changes shape, dentures need to be relined, remade or rebased, which means that a new base is created utilizing the teeth on your current denture.

A removable partial is detached by its wearer for daily cleaning and at bedtime. It is prescribed when:

· Teeth adjacent to the gap are weak

· There are multiple missing teeth

· There are no posterior teeth to provide an anchor for the bridge

FACTS:
 

Missing teeth can often lead to a number of mouth ailments, which include:

 

· The development of an unstable bite and increased dental stress that can damage teeth and gums or cause headaches

· Increased risk for periodontal disease and tooth decay

· Bridges can last anywhere from 10 to 20 years with proper care. Typically, two office visits are required to prepare, complete, and fit a permanent bridge.