HOW DENTURES WORK

If you have a significant amount of missing teeth (or all of your teeth are missing), you should consider replacements both for practical and aesthetic reasons. When considering replacements, if you have too many teeth missing for implants or dental bridges, dentures will be your best option.

What Are Dentures?

Dentures are dental replacement prosthetics intended to replace a significant portion of a patient’s teeth, or all of a patient’s teeth. These solutions can be made to look very similar to the patient’s original teeth, and serve both practical and cosmetic functions. Many patients find that replacement prosthetics help to return their smile to them, and help them with everyday activities like chewing.

Partial or Full?

There are two main options when it comes to dentures, and which you go with will depend on your particular needs. These are full and partial dentures. Just as the names imply, full dentures are for patients that need to replace all of their teeth, while partial dentures are for patients that only need a portion of their teeth replaced. Your dentist will do their best to save as many of your natural teeth as possible, and will opt for partial prosthetics if they are available.

How Do Full Dentures Work?

Full dentures are prosthetics that sit on top of the gums, and are held in place with natural suction. They are generally not held in place with an adhesive unless a dentist suggests an adhesive. If they are not properly staying in place naturally, they may need an adjustment. Full replacement prosthetics are excellent for patients whose teeth have all fallen out, or who need their remaining teeth extracted.

How Do Partial Dentures Work?

Unlike full dentures, partial replacement prosthetics are attached to the healthy, surrounding teeth and are held in place using clasps. While they are being held in place with the help of metal clasps, unlike dental bridges, partial dentures can be removed from the mouth for proper cleaning.

Immediate Dentures

Dentures will often involve a healing period followed by the creation of custom prosthetics, which is a process that can take a few months. For some patients, though, immediate replacement prosthetics are an option. Immediate dentures are placed right after any remaining teeth are extracted. Although immediate prosthetics can be placed right after an extraction procedure, they will eventually need to be adjusted to properly fit the patient’s mouth.

Speak with a Cosmetic Dentist

If you have missing teeth, or if you need an extraction of your remaining teeth, speak with your dentist about full or partial dentures. You can also speak with your dentist about whether or not immediate replacements are an option.

Dentures will help to return a lot of the functionality that you lost when your teeth fell out or were removed, while also giving you a gorgeous smile that you can be proud of. Set an appointment today with a cosmetic dentist to discuss your options when it comes to replacing some or all of your natural teeth.

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