Dentures & Partial Dentures

Dentures are removable replacements for missing teeth and their adjacent tissue. They can be either complete or partial and are made to resemble your natural teeth. Complete dentures replace all missing teeth while partial dentures replace only some natural teeth.

Reasons for getting dentures can be one of the following:

• Enhancing your facial tissues and your smile
• Improving your ability to chew, digest, and speak
• Due to partial loss of teeth
• Due to complete loss of teeth

All in all, dentures are great for several reasons, including the fact that they are very durable. It may take many years until you need to change or repair them.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are used to fill empty spaces left by missing teeth, but they are also used to prevent other teeth from moving. In essence, even if a single tooth remains, a partial denture will still be used instead of a complete one.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are only used when all teeth are missing. You can get either conventional or immediate complete dentures. Conventional dentures are placed some 12 weeks after teeth have been entirely removed and the gum and tissues have sufficiently healed. Immediate dentures are made in advance and placed immediately after the teeth are removed. Conventional dentures are better in most ways, but they do have a disadvantage in the sense that they usually require additional adjustments during the healing period.

How Are Dentures Placed?

The entire process of getting a denture can take a couple of weeks and several appointments. The first thing that the dentist does is to determine what kind of restoration is best for you. When they decide on the denture, they measure your entire jaw and subsequently make a model of a denture optimal for you. Only when they are sure of the right shape, size, and color will they start making a final denture.

Upon getting it placed, it will likely feel strange or even loose for a while, up to a few weeks. You can also experience soreness, irritation, and increased saliva flow, but nothing too serious. After a while, your mouth will ultimately adjust to the denture.

Your dentist will also explain how to take proper care of your denture through proper dental hygiene.