Dentures
A denture is a removable prosthetic device for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available, complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.
Types of Dentures
Complete
Complete dentures can be either "conventional" or "immediate." Made after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal, a conventional denture is ready for placement in the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.
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Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore immediate dentures compared to conventional dentures may require a reline or additional adjustments to fit properly during the healing process.
Partial
A removable partial denture or flipper usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position. Two of our most recommended partials are our cast metal and resin-acrylic. These precision partial dentures are removable and have internal attachments as well as clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns. Additionally, we offer a fully cosmetic transparent valplast that is more natural-looking and has a sheer finish.
The Procedure
Step one
The dentist will make a series of impressions of your jaw and take measurements of how your jaws relate to one another and how much space is between them.
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Step two
Create models, wax forms, and/or plastic patterns in the exact shape and position of the denture to be made. You will "try in" this model several times and the denture will be assessed for color, shape, and fit before the final denture is cast.
Step three
Cast a final denture
Step four
Finally, the dentist will make final adjustments as needed per patient's requests.