Removable Dentures
Removable dentures are used to replace missing teeth in a patient’s mouth.
The difference between dentures and a bridge is that dentures can be removed while a bridge is cemented in. Removable dentures are made of pink acrylic as a base and plastic teeth. The denture acrylic is very natural looking and the teeth come in many different shades and shapes. Your dentist is trained to pick teeth that will appear very natural. A denture can replace a couple teeth or all of your teeth. Sometimes a fixed bridge is not an option because there is not a tooth available on each side of the area where teeth are missing. This is where a removable denture is a treatment option. There are two kinds of removable dentures, a partial of full denture.
Partial Removable Dentures
A partial removable denture uses the existing teeth to help hold the denture in place. Metal arms are fabricated that hold onto existing teeth to make it stable. The metal arms are hidden so that other people do not notice. If they can’t be hidden, there are techniques that can be used to hide them so that no one knows you are wearing a denture. The advantage of a removable denture is that is can be a very cost effective way to replace multiple teeth.
Full Removable Dentures
A full removable denture is used when there are no existing teeth available. The same acrylic and teeth used in a partial denture are used in a full denture. Typically, upper full dentures fit well because they suction to the roof of your mouth. Lower dentures don’t fit as well because the tongue always pushes the denture around. Another contributing factor to the fit is the remaining bone. The more bone that remains creates more surface area for the acrylic of the denture to suction into place. If the denture doesn’t fit real well, sometimes adhesives can be used. If this doesn’t work, implants can be used to help hold the denture into place. It is very important to sit with us and discuss what the best treatment plan is for you.
More Info: Mouth Healthy