Introduction to Dentures

The Importance of Full and Partial Dentures

Unfortunately, many people have lost all of their natural teeth due to periodontal disease, trauma, or tooth decay. Replacing missing teeth is beneficial to your health and appearance. Complete and partial tooth loss results in the sagging of your facial muscles, which makes you look older. It also prevents you from eating and speaking properly.

In situations where a patient is not a good candidate for fixed restorations, then the best and most affordable option for teeth replacements is removable dentures

A denture is an appliance that is inserted in the mouth to replace natural teeth and provide support for the lips and cheeks. Full and partial dentures provide many people with a very satisfactory restoration and improved function. The teeth are made of plastic, porcelain or a combination of both. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over endodontically treated teeth and a complete denture can be attached to dental implants to allow for a more secure fit of the appliance.

Types of Dentures

Conventional full denture
Immediate full denture
Partial denture
Implant-supported denture or overdenture

Dentures over a normal course of time will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment normal. The alignment will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Regular dental examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.