About Complete and Partial Dentures

Teeth dentures

Dentures are used as removable replacements for teeth that are missing. Dentures are also used for those that have lost a lot of teeth. Tooth loss could be caused by tooth decay, periodontal disease or traumatic mouth injury. When tooth loss occurs, it is extremely important to replace the missing teeth immediately. Not doing so may give the remaining teeth the chance to shift position, which can result to sagging facial appearance, and inability to chew and bite properly.

Dentures today are made not only for comfort but also for aesthetic purposes. They are functional and provide natural look for improved smile. There are two kinds of dentures; the complete and the partial dentures. 

Complete Dentures

No dentures for this one

Complete dentures involve the substitution of every tooth in either the upper or lower parts of the mouth. This is distinctively beneficial for people that have lost a lot of their teeth in single arch. In fact, the level of soothe will depend on the tongue, bones, saliva and muscle.

Complete full dentures are great tools for replacing all of the teeth in only one arch. Its functionality relies heavily on the natural saliva for adequate suctioning that will keep it in place. This type of denture requires regular maintenance, possibly a relining after 3 to five years. In some cases complete dentures need to be completely replaced after some time. Dental adhesives can be used as temporary solution for loosing dentures.

There are two types of complete dentures; conventional and immediate. Conventional dentures are made after the removal of the teeth when the gum tissues are starting to heal. This type of denture is ready for replacement after eight to twelve weeks after teeth removal.

Immediate dentures on the other hand are made in advanced and can be placed right after the teeth are detached. This is a good alternative especially for people that do not wish to stay toothless for a few weeks. One inconvenience of direct dentures is that they need lots of adjustments before they can fit properly on the gums. This is because during the healing period, gums tend to shrink. Therefore, immediate dentures tend to get loosen. In most cases immediate dentures are only used as temporary replacements while the conventional dentures are still being made. 

Partial Dentures

Partial removable dentures, also called bridge, are usually made up of the false teeth attached to the gum-like plastic support, which is then attached to a metal framework that will keep the set in place in the mouth. The most common option of people with only a few teeth missing is partial dentures. The removable dentures are placed in between the remaining natural teeth. Partial dentures are not only functional as replacement teeth but they can also act as bridges that will stop the natural teeth from shifting position. For more natural look, you can choose a partial denture. This type of denture is also removable but it has internal attachment instead of using clasps that will be attached to the closest crowns.