Dentures

Dentures are removable prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth. They are supported by soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. There are two types of dentures:

Partial dentures are for patients who are missing one or more of their teeth. They are kept in place by resting against or clasping onto the remaining teeth or implants. Partial dentures are fabricated out of plastic or plastic in combination with metal.

Complete dentures are worn by patients who are missing all of their teeth. Some patients who believe they have “bad teeth” may think it is in their best interest to have all their teeth extracted and full dentures placed. However, statistics show that the majority of patients who actually receive this treatment wind up regretting they did so. This is because complete dentures have only 10% of the chewing power of natural teeth, and it is difficult to get them fitted satisfactorily, particularly in the lower jaw. Even if a patient retains one tooth it will contribute to the denture’s stability for the lower jaw. If this is not possible then implants are recommended to retain the lower complete denture. Retention of just one or two teeth in the upper jaw does not contribute much to the overall stability of a denture, since an upper complete denture tends to be very stable.

Over time dentures need to be relined or replaced in order to maintain proper fit and optimum oral health. Regular dental examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be evaluated for change or disease.