What are Dentures?
Dentures are a removable appliance that can be used to replace missing teeth.
These are custom designed to fit your individual smile and are kept in place by clasps around your existing teeth or via suction. Occasionally glue or a adhesive gels are used to keep a denture in place.
There are two types of dentures available:
- Partial dentures are used to replace one or several teeth and rely on existing teeth for support.
- Full dentures are used to replace a whole set of teeth on both the upper and lower sections of the jaw.
These are fabricated from either acrylic or metal with prosthetic teeth attached. Dentures help to restore speech, chewing and the appearance of your smile whilst providing extra support for your facial tissues. Dentures must be properly maintained and removed at night to retain the integrity of your dental appliance and your gum tissue.
Complete Denture
A complete denture (also known as a full denture, false teeth or plate) is a removable appliance used when all teeth within a jaw have been lost and need to be prosthetically replaced. In contrast to a partial denture, a complete denture is constructed when there are no more teeth left in an arch, hence it is an exclusively tissue-supported prosthesis. A complete denture can be opposed by natural dentition, a partial or complete denture, fixed appliances or, sometimes, soft tissues.
Overdentures
An overdenture is a prosthesis that fits over retained roots or implants in the jaws. Compared to conventional complete dentures, it provides a greater level of stability and support for the prosthesis. The mandibular (lower) jaw has a significantly less surface area compared to the maxillary (upper) jaw, hence retention of a lower prosthesis is much more reduced. Consequently, mandibular overdentures are much more commonly prescribed than maxillary ones, where the palate often provides enough support for the plate.
Flexible dentures
Flexible dentures are most commonly made from thermoplastics like nylon. This use of advanced materials allows this variety of dentures to boast different qualities than conventional dentures.
Flexible dentures are considered to be:
- Thin and bendable, comfortable, Unabsorbent of stains and smell
- Aesthetically pleasing and offering a natural look
Cast Partial Denture
A Denture is defined as a removable plate or frame holding one or more artificial teeth, which is used to replace missing teeth in the mouth. A Cast Partial Denture (CPD) is defined as a removable partial denture consisting of a cast metal framework that contains artificial teeth set in an acrylic resin.
As compared to conventional acrylic denture, Cast Partial Denture is stronger, more durable and retentive.
Implant-supported dentures: Implant-supported dentures use implants to anchor removable dentures in place while you wear them.
During an initial appointment, your dentist at Asian Dental, will work closely with you to develop a personalized treatment plan to ensure that you get the care you deserve. Our dentists at Asian Dental are dedicated to providing an atmosphere that makes you feel comfortable and confident in your care.
Implant-supported dentures are the lovechild of dentures and implants. These devices combine these two modern prosthetics.
During the installation of these dentures, an oral surgeon will surgically attach four to six implants, typically titanium screws, into the patient’s jawbone. The screws are then given time to fuse with the patient’s jawbone tissue properly. This usually takes anywhere between three to six months. This procedure is known as osseointegration.
Once the implants are firmly joined to the patient’s jawbone, a unique set of dentures is attached to them. Once inserted, these dentures cannot be removed without the assistance of a dentist. That is the massive difference between dentures supported by implants and the traditional ones. These devices have many advantages like:
- It helps to prevent bone tissue loss since the implants are stimulating the patient’s gums
- It feels and looks natural in the patient’s mouth
- There is no adjustment period with these prosthetics
- Taking care of this type of dentures is no different from taking care of real teeth
- The patient can go back to enjoying his/her favourite foods
Unfortunately, not everyone qualifies for dentures supported by implants. Before installation, the dentist will verify that the patient has enough healthy jawbone tissue for the procedure. Bone grafting or artificial bone tissue is sometimes used when the patient does not have the adequate bone tissue.
