Removable Complete or Partial Dentures
Have you had to remove one, several or all of your teeth because of tooth decay, gum diseases or an accident? Do you want to replace them in order to restore your smile, improve your chewing and your speech? Your dentist may have suggested a denture. There are two types of removable dentures; complete dentures or partial dentures.
Partial denture
The partial denture is made to replace one or many missing teeth in one arch of your mouth. It is fabricated when there are still some teeth left in order to support the partial denture. It is made with small metal hooks that attach to the natural teeth and are designed to support the denture. This option is usually chosen for its affordable price and when the remaining teeth are not strong enough to hold bridges.
Complete denture
The complete denture is a good replacement option when there aren’t any natural teeth left in either the upper or lower arch. Complete dentures stay in place by suction and muscle control.
In order to fabricate a denture, your dentist or your denturist will need to take impressions of your mouth. A model made from these impressions will be used to fabricate the denture. It may be hard to get used to your denture, it takes several days, even weeks to get used to your new denture.
There are two ways to make a denture, immediate dentures or conventional dentures.
Immediate dentures are made before your teeth are extracted. Your dentist or denturist will take impressions of your mouth and teeth before they are extracted and fabricate a denture so that when you have your teeth extracted, you have a denture to replace them right away. This type of denture requires many adjustments afterward because as the tissues heal and shrink, the fit will change.
Conventional dentures are made after the teeth are extracted and the bone and tissues are healed. Once your teeth are extracted, you usually wait up to 3 months until you can take impressions and have your dentures made.
Usage tips
It is very important to take good care of your dentures. Even if they are not natural teeth, dental plaque and tartar can accumulate on your dentures. It is important to remove your dentures everyday, preferably at night. You have to brush them using a denture brush or a soft bristle toothbrush. It is also important to brush and massage your gums when you remove your dentures. Your dentures should be kept somewhere safe when you remove them and soaked in water. You can also add a solution to clean them. Dentures are fragile and can easily break if you drop them on the floor. It is recommended to change or re-adjust your dentures every 5 years because your mouth continues to change.