Three kinds of dentures
Dentures are a reliable solution to replace missing teeth. Patients ask about dentures on a daily basis at my office. There are pros and cons to dentures. Pros: no surgery, can be a quick process. cons: does not feel like natural teeth, a separate appliance that can become loose.
There are three main types of dentures I fabricate in our Bridgeport dental office, partial dentures, complete dentures, and implant-supported dentures.
Partial Dentures
If only a few teeth are missing, partial dentures can be a solution to replacing them. Partial dentures have a plastic/metal base with plastic teeth embedded in it. Partial dentures are anchored to your remaining teeth. A partial denture is a removable solution vs more ‘permanent’ fixed solution like dental implants.
Complete Dentures
On the other hand, a complete denture is an option when a patient is missing all of his/her teeth. If we decide that complete dentures are the best available treatment plan, we can usually start the denture process 12 weeks after all the teeth are extracted. Bone and gum are constantly reshaping following an extraction. Starting denture fabrication before complete healing could result in poor fitting denture down the road. Complete dentures are loose-fitting due to the lack of Anchorage, chewing efficiency of dentures are 20% of that natural teeth, speech can also be altered due to the invasion of tongue space. A dental adhesive is often required in aid of wearing complete dentures. Please have a conversation about your expectations and goals with your dentist before starting the denture process.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures can be fixed or removable. It is anchored onto implants to increase stability, dentures are also smaller in size compared to traditional dentures. Call our office to have a consultation about implant-supported dentures, and ask about the 24 months interest-free payment plan.
Denture process typically involves 5 appointments. During the consultation appointment, I will examine your gums and teeth to ensure they are adequate to support dentures. A mould of your mouth is then taken to be sent to a dental lab. In the next few appointments, you can expect a series of try in/fitting of the plate and denture to ensure the denture looks natural, fits well, and functions adequately. Adjustment to dentures is often necessary even after denture adjustment.