More about dentures
Dentures

A denture replaces multiple missing teeth.

Dentures can be fixed or removable, partial or full, and implant supported or not. Fixed dentures require implants, while removable dentures may or may not rely on implants for attachment.

Full Dentures
Traditional Dentures for the Edentulous Patient

(Missing All Teeth in Either the Upper or Lower Arch) Traditional dentures are removable, and do not use implants. Traditional dentures include an acrylic base that is custom-made in the dental laboratory to mimic the appearance of natural gums, and this base sits over the gums, holding the denture in place. A complete (full) denture is made after all the teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw have been removed and the gum tissue has healed. Denture paste or adhesive is often to used to assist in holding the denture in place. Removable dentures can be removed and cleaned when not being worn.

Partial Dentures
Traditional Dentures for the Patient Missing Multiple Teeth in One Arch

A traditional partial denture is a removable solution for replacing many teeth in one arch when there are still some natural teeth present. In this case, the acrylic base will also contain some metal attachments that wrap around the existing teeth for added support. Partial dentures can also be attached to crowns on either side of the denture. Removable partial dentures can be removed and cleaned when not being worn.

Implant Supported Dentures
Implants can be used to anchor dentures in place, allowing for a smaller base and less shifting of the prosthesis during use. Implants can support both full and partial dentures as well as both fixed and removable dentures.

Implant supported dentures can be either fixed or removable. This solution requires the placement of two or more implants. If a removable denture is selected, the denture will “snap” on to the implant rather than requiring the use of denture paste or adhesives. Removable dentures can be taken out for cleaning at night.

This technique offers many advantages over traditional dentures.

Easy to care for, this solution can simulate the look and feel of natural teeth and stay fixed in place with the implants acting as anchors. Patients will not experience the typical rocking and movement or gum irritation associated with dentures.

Dental implant placement can also help alleviate the sunken look that can occur with bone loss in the jaw by stimulating bone growth in the area around the implant. This process is called osseointegration and can also help prevent future bone loss
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