What are Dentures?
Dentures are artificial teeth replacements that allow patients with several missing teeth to maintain the profile of their faces, eat properly and speak well. They can use this to replace one missing tooth, several missing teeth, or every tooth.
Replacing missing teeth is essential to your oral health. If you are missing all or some of your natural teeth, dentures may be an affordable option for replacing them.
Types of Dentures
Whether you need dentures to replace only one missing tooth, a row of teeth or even a whole jaw, your dentist can help you decide on what option works best for you and your smile.
- Full Dentures
Your dentist will use full dentures, commonly referred to as false teeth or complete dentures, if you are missing a whole jaw of teeth.
You can have your dentures fitted for your lower and upper gums, where they will be held in place by either suction and/or with the help of an oral adhesive.
Full dentures can be removed for cleaning and sleeping.
- Partial Dentures
If you are missing more than a few teeth or if the teeth surrounding a gap in your smile aren't structurally sound, your dentist may recommend partial dentures as a tooth replacement option.
Partial dentures are made up of one or more artificial teeth held in place by clasps that fit onto your natural teeth or a tooth replacement like a dental crown.
They can be removed for cleaning and sleeping.
- Implant-Supported Dentures
If there is not enough gum tissue to support full dentures, dental implants may be used to help stabilize the dentures for a secure fit.
Why Dentures May Be Used
If you lose all of the teeth of the upper or lower jaw (or the entire mouth), your facial muscles will struggle to hold your face up normally, causing it to take on a sagged appearance. Dentures can help to fill out the appearance of your facial profile in order to prevent this. They can also be made to closely resemble your natural teeth so that your appearance does not change much.
Filling in a gap caused by missing teeth is also crucial to your long-term oral health. By fitting you for dentures, your dentist will also help protect your remaining teeth from shifting, which can lead to more serious issues like gum disease.