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What are Dentures?
Dentures are artificial tooth replacements used to restore one, several, or all missing teeth. They can help patients with missing teeth eat comfortably, speak clearly, and maintain proper oral function again.
Replacing missing teeth is not just about appearance; missing teeth can also affect your facial structure, causing muscles to sag and creating an aged look.
Dentures help support your facial structure while being designed to closely resemble your natural teeth, so your smile looks as natural as possible.
They can also play an important role in long-term oral health by filling gaps left by missing teeth.
This can help prevent your remaining teeth from shifting, which may reduce the risk of issues such as gum disease.
For many patients, dentures offer a practical and effective way to restore both the function of their teeth and the confidence in their smile.
Types of Dentures
Whether you need dentures to replace one missing tooth, a row of teeth or a whole set, your dentist can help you decide on the right option for you.
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Full Dentures
When most people hear the word “dentures,” they think of full dentures. Full dentures are a complete set of teeth set in pink acrylic designed to resemble natural gums. They are usually held in place by suction, which can take a little getting used to at first.
Full dentures are typically recommended for patients who no longer have any natural teeth. However, in some cases, a patient may want full dentures, but they have a few teeth remaining. In these situations, a dentist may suggest overdentures, which fit over the existing teeth for added support. For patients who have trouble keeping full dentures in place with suction alone, an implant can be placed under the gums to help secure the overdentures. Even with an implant, overdentures remain removable for cleaning and maintenance.
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Partial Dentures
Partial dentures, sometimes called removable partial dentures or simply “partials,” are designed for patients who are missing some, but not all, of their teeth. They are often recommended when the remaining teeth aren’t strong enough to support a bridge or when several teeth in a row are missing. Partials are usually held in place with clasps that attach to the surrounding teeth, and in some cases, they can look similar to a retainer with teeth attached.
Caring for Your Dentures
Just like natural teeth, dentures need regular maintenance. Brushing your dentures every day helps prevent plaque and tartar buildup, which can affect the health of your gums even though the dentures aren’t attached to them.
When your dentures aren’t in your mouth, they should be soaked in warm (not hot) water. If your dentures have any metal components, it’s best to soak them in plain water to avoid tarnishing. For fully plastic dentures, you can use a denture cleanser mixed with water to keep them fresh and clean.