Dental Dentures

Dentures are artificial replacements for your natural teeth and gums. If an accident, a disease or poor oral health care has left you with only a few healthy teeth or none at all, your dentist or prosthodontist might suggest dentures to replace your missing teeth. There are 2 types of dentures: partial and complete. For both types of dentures your dentist or specialist makes a model of your teeth by taking impressions. The models are used to custom-make your dentures.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are designed to replace the teeth in an entire arch when all the teeth are missing. You can have them fitted for your top or bottom gum line, and are held in place by suction and/or the help of an oral adhesive. Just like partial dentures, they are easily removable.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are often used instead of other tooth replacement methods when the surrounding natural teeth are not strong enough to support structures such as dental bridges, or when more than one or two teeth are missing.

Complete and partial dentures can provide patients with a functional replacement when teeth have been lost.

Complete dentures consist of an acrylic base to imitate gum tissue, and the teeth can be made of acrylic or porcelain. The denture base is made to closely fit the contours of the arch to ensure the denture is stable during normal oral functions such as eating, speaking, or swallowing.

Partial dentures can be made with a metal framework and teeth attached in the areas where the teeth are missing. The metal framework also has clasps or arms that extend out and fit around some of the existing teeth. The combination of the framework and the arms that wrap around some of the teeth keep the partial denture stable during normal oral functions.

Implant-supported Dentures

An implant-supported denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to implants. A regular denture rests on the gums, and is not supported by implants. An implant-supported denture is used when a person doesn't have any teeth in the jaw, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants.

How to clean Dentures

Regardless of what kind of dentures you may have, all dentures need to be cleaned daily, just like regular teeth. Even though dentures are made up of artificial teeth, bacteria, plaque, and tartar still build up on them and can harm existing teeth and gums. To clean your dentures, take them out of your mouth and run clean water over them to dislodge any food particles that may be stuck between teeth, along the gum line, or underneath the structure. Then brush the dentures all over with a denture brush or very soft toothbrush using a mild soap or denture cleaner. While your dentures are out of your mouth, be sure to clean your gums and any natural teeth as well.

Our knowledgeable dentists will provide all necessary information for patient education, helping you to understand if this is the right choice for you.

Tori Plaza Dental in Medicine Hat offers both complete and partial dentures. If you are missing teeth, we encourage you to book a consultation and see if dentures are the right option for you. Please call us at (403) 504-5093

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