What is Denture?
A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. It is made of acrylic resin or a combination with various metals.
A complete denture replaces all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other teeth from changing position.
Why Use Dentures?
It is very important to replace missing teeth. The ill-effects of not doing so can be a shift in the remaining teeth, an inability to bite and chew properly, as well as a sagging facial appearance, which makes one appear older.
The beauty of dentures today is that they are designed to be comfortable and functional. They are very similar in appearance to natural teeth and can improve a smile or facial appearance.
What are the Types of Dentures?
There are four basic types of dentures. They are:
- Partial dentures
- Full dentures
- Implant-supported dentures
- Removable partial dentures
These fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, resting partly on the gums and partly on the remaining teeth. Removable partial dentures may be attached to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments. They include:
- Acrylic partial dentures
- Metal frame partial dentures
- Removable complete dentures
These replace all the teeth in a jaw and fit directly on the gums and supporting bone. Complete dentures can also be made to attach to dental implants. They include:
- Complete acrylic dentures
- Complete metal frame dentures
- Implant-supported overdentures
These are similar to conventional complete dentures. The difference is that the complete dentures are attached to dental implants that are used to provide greater stabilisation during chewing.
Ask your dentist for more information about which appliance best suits you.