Full & Partial Dentures: Enhance Your Smile and Oral Health
Missing teeth affect both your appearance and oral health. Whether due to trauma, periodontal infection, or decay, dentures can provide a healthier and more appealing smile. Options include full dentures or partial dentures, depending on your needs.
- Make eating and chewing easier
- Facilitate clearer speech
- Provide support for cheeks and lips for a healthier, more youthful appearance
- In the case of partial dentures, prevent remaining teeth from shifting out of place
- Restore self-confidence
- Create a natural-looking smile
Your dentist will assess your gums, jawbone, and remaining teeth to decide if dentures are the right solution for you and to determine whether full or partial dentures are best suited to your needs. Custom dentures are made in specialized labs using various materials, with considerations for suitability, durability, aesthetics, and cost influencing your choice.
Full & Partial Dentures: Enhance Your Smile and Oral Health
Full dentures replace all the teeth on the upper and/or lower jaw. To ensure a precise fit, detailed impressions of your gums and mouth will be taken. Your dentist will assess how your jaws align to make sure the dentures don’t impact your bite. You can choose the shade of your teeth with a shade guide and help from your dentist and staff to what looks most natural and works best for you.
Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are crafted before any necessary extractions and can be placed immediately, so you don't have to wait for the gums and jawbone to heal. Since the gums and jawbone may shrink after tooth loss, multiple adjustments over several months may be needed to ensure a comfortable fit.
Implant Supported Dentures
Dental implants are first surgically placed in the jawbone where they fuse with the bone over a period of months. Once the implants are secure, removable dentures are fabricated which clip onto the implants. (Fixed dentures are also an option, attached to the implants using special screws which can only be removed by a dentist.) This type of denture is very secure, and, because implants stimulate jawbone tissue like natural tooth roots do, helps prevent bone loss.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures replace several missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. They typically require healthy adjacent teeth for secure placement. Unlike bridges, which are permanently fixed to neighboring teeth, partial dentures are removable and are secured with various types of attachments.
Clasp Attachments
A common type of partial denture features a metal clasp that wraps around a supporting tooth to hold the denture securely in place. These clasps indicate these are strong supported partials.
Flexible Partial Dentures
Made from acrylic material, flexible dentures feature translucent, gum-colored extensions that subtly fit around the base of the teeth near the gumline.
Denture Care
Dentures, like natural teeth, require daily care. Your dentist can recommend the best cleaning routine, including the type of soft brush, non-abrasive cleaner, and soaking solution to effectively remove plaque and bacteria.
Report any discomfort or damage to your dentist immediately. Regular dental checkups are essential to ensure your dentures fit properly and that your gums and oral tissues remain healthy.
Whether you opt for dentures, bridges, or implants, replacing missing teeth will restore function and enhance the appearance of your smile. To determine if dentures are the right option for you, discuss your questions, concerns, and choices with your dentist.