Partial & Full Dentures

Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out and replace into your mouth. There are 2 types of dentures: Full and Partial. With full dentures a flesh colored acrylic base fits over your gums. The base of the upper denture covers the palate (the roof of your mouth) while the lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to accommodate your tongue. Full dentures come as either “conventional full” dentures or “immediate full denture.” A conventional full denture is placed in your mouth after any remaining teeth are removed and tissues have healed. This can take as long as 6 months during which you have no teeth. An immediate full denture is inserted immediately after the remaining teeth are removed. While immediate full dentures offer the benefit of never being without teeth they must be relined several months after being inserted.

Partial dentures rest on a metal framework that attaches to your natural teeth. Sometimes crowns are placed on some of your natural teeth and serve as anchors for the denture. Partial dentures offer a removable alternative to bridges.

Over time dentures will need to be relined, remade, or rebased due to normal wear. Rebasing means making a new base while keeping the existing denture teeth. Also as you age the shape of your mouth changes which can cause your denture to loosen which can irritate your gums. At a minimum you should have annual checkups with your dentist to ascertain the condition of your denture and the possible effects it is having on the supporting gum tissue.