A denture or a complete denture, as it is often called, is an appliance that is inserted in the mouth. It replaces all of your natural teeth and provides support for the cheeks and lips.
This is a type of denture that functions similarly to a complete denture but allows you to retain some of your natural teeth. Depending on the number of teeth and which ones a patient has, Dr. Toothman will design a partial that will best work for you. We can make partials with different materials depending on the situation. We often make conventional partials where the partial has metal clasps that grasp on to natural teeth for retention as well as all acrylic partials that can be ridged or flexible.
Most complete dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated two different ways.
- A conventional denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have healed.
- An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted and the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture.
- An upper denture has acrylic, usually flesh colored, that covers the palate (roof of the mouth).
- A lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue.
The teeth are made of plastic, porcelain or a combination thereof. Dentures can be fabricated to be attached to dental implants to allow for a more secure fit of the appliance.
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.