If you have lost some or all of your natural teeth, dentures can replace your missing teeth and improve your quality of life. With a little practice, dentures can make eating and speaking easier. You can smile freely without feeling embarrassed.

Dentures can be made to look like your natural teeth. There may be only a small change in how you look. Full dentures may even give you a better smile. Dentures also support the cheeks and lips so the face muscles do not sag and make you look older.

Types of Dentures

Complete dentures have replacement teeth fitted into an acrylic base. The base is made to closely match the color of your gum tissue. If you still have some natural teeth, they will be removed before your dentures are placed.

Conventional Complete Dentures

A conventional complete denture is made and placed in your mouth after the teeth are taken out and the tissues have healed. Healing takes several months. The base of the upper denture covers the palate (roof of the mouth). When the base of the upper denture rests against the gums and palate, it makes a seal to hold the denture in place.

The lower denture has a horseshoe shape so there is room for the tongue and muscle attachments. It rests on the gum and bone tissues of the dental ridge. A thin film of saliva holds it in place. The cheek muscles and the tongue also help hold the lower denture in place.

Implant-Supported Complete Dentures

A complete denture may also be attached to dental implants, which provide a more secure fit. Implants are posts that are surgically placed in the upper or lower jaw. Properly placed implants make the denture stable and can help reduce bone loss.

Many patients find that implant-supported dentures are more comfortable and secure than conventional dentures. However, not everyone is a candidate for implants. Patients must be in good health and have enough bone to support the implants.

Immediate Dentures

Some patients may have the option to get immediate dentures .These dentures are made before the remaining teeth are removed. Once the denture has been made at the lab and is ready for you at the office, the remaining teeth are removed and the denture is placed right away. With immediate dentures, the denture wearer does not have to go without teeth during the healing time. Once healing is complete, the dentures may need to be adjusted or relined.

Removable Partial Denture

As its name describes, a removable partial denture can easily be taken out of the mouth for cleaning. Partial dentures usually have replacement teeth fixed to an acrylic base that matches the color of your gum tissue. The base may cover a metal framework. Partial dentures often have some form of clasp that attaches to your natural teeth. A removable partial denture can replace one or multiple missing teeth.