Partial and Complete Dentures

Dentures can replace your missing teeth and your smile. This may be required in the event that you have lost your natural teeth from gum disease, tooth decay or injury.

Replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. Facial muscles sag without support from a denture which makes a person look older. You will also be able to eat and speak, things that people often take for granted until they have lost their natural teeth.

What is a denture?

A denture is an appliance which is worn to replace lost or missing teeth. The base of a denture is called a plate and can be made of either acrylic (plastic) or metal. The teeth are normally made of acrylic or porcelain and can be made to match your natural teeth. A complete or full denture is one which replaces all of the natural teeth in either the upper or lower jaws. A partial denture fills in the spaces created by lost or missing teeth and is attached to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments.

Why do you need partial or complete dentures?

Replacing lost or missing teeth has substantial benefits for your health and appearance. A complete or full denture replaces the natural teeth and provides support for cheeks and lips. Without this support, sagging facial muscles can make a person appear older and reduce their ability to eat and speak.

What is the difference between conventional and immediate dentures?

Conventional dentures are made and inserted after teeth have been removed and the tissues have healed. Healing may take several months. During this time the patient will be without teeth.

Immediate Dentures are inserted immediately after teeth have been removed. To do this, Dr. Warren will take measurements and impressions of your mouth during a preliminary visit. In some cases, posterior teeth may need to be removed to assure a good fitting denture that will achieve the proper tooth alignment. The bite is also checked so that the new denture wearer will be able to acclimate much faster.

Advantages of Immediate Partial or Complete Dentures:

The new denture wearer is never without teeth
If two surgeries are indicated, the patient’s gums are healing while using remaining teeth to function as before
Patient will be able to wear teeth and become used to functioning with a new appliance while the gum tissues heal

Disadvantages of Immediate Partial or Complete Dentures:

In some cases, two surgeries for extractions are indicated
Immediate dentures may be loose in the beginning
Eating may be difficult due to sore, swollen, and healing gums
Relining the denture will be needed faster than conventional denture

What is an overdenture?

An overdenture is a removable denture that fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth or dental implants. The natural teeth must be prepared to provide stability and support for the denture. This stability will give the denture wearer more support in their denture than simply relying on the bony ridge for support.

Are there any alternatives to dentures?

Dentures are no longer the only way to restore a mouth that has little or no non-restorable teeth. Strategically placed support, or implants, can now be used to support permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. The cost tends to be greater, but the implants and bridges more closely resemble the 'feel' of real teeth. Dental implants are becoming the alternative of choice to dentures, but not everyone is a candidate for implants.

Implants can also be used to stabilize the denture. There are numerous ways to use implants and dentures together. Some options include screw-retained dentures that are tightened directly on the implants or an implant overdenture that will snap on to a retention bar or retention spheres.

» Contact our office to schedule your appointment to discuss your treatment options with Dr. Warren.

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