Dentures & Partials
All of your teeth play an important role in speaking, chewing, and maintaining proper alignment of other teeth. Tooth loss doesn’t necessarily have to occur as you age, but if you do lose teeth it is recommended they be replaced to maintain proper chewing and function. Fortunately, there are options for correcting tooth loss.
A denture is an appliance that replaces missing teeth, restoring the look and feel of your smile. It is inserted in the mouth, replaces natural teeth, and provides support for the cheeks and lips. You may be a good candidate for this procedure if you are missing multiple teeth. Using a local lab, we can offer traditional partials or full dentures as well as partials without metal, giving you a natural-looking smile.
Most dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated in two different ways.
- A conventional denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have healed.
- An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted and the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture.
The teeth are made of plastic, porcelain, or a combination thereof. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over endodontically treated teeth or attached to dental implants to allow for a more secure fit of the appliance.
Dentures over a normal course of time will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment normal. The alignment will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Regular dental examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.
