Dental Dentures

What Are Dental Dentures?

Dentures are prosthetic teeth constructed to replace missing teeth, which are supported by surrounding soft and hard dental tissues of the mouth.
 
Traditional dental dentures are removable, however there are many different dental denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clipping onto teeth or dental implants.
 
There are two main categories of dentures, depending on whether they are used to replace missing teeth on the mandibular arch or the maxillary arch. There are many informal names for dentures such as dental plate, false teeth and falsies.

Removable Dental Dentures




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Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing some of their teeth on a particular arch. Fixed partial dentures, better known as "crown and bridge", are made from crowns that are fitted on the remaining teeth to act as abutments and pontics
made from materials to resemble the missing teeth. Fixed bridges are more expensive than removable appliances but are more stable.

Complete dentures

Conversely, complete dentures or full dentures are worn by patients who are missing all their teeth in an arch (i.e the maxillary (upper) or mandibular (lower) arch.

Complications and recommendations

The fabrication of a set of complete dentures is a challenge for any denturist, including those who are experienced.

There are many problems in the manufacture of dentures that must be understood, of which ignorance of one axiom can lead to failure of the denture case.

In the vast majority of cases, complete dentures should be comfortable soon after insertion, although almost always at least two adjustment visits will be necessary to remove sore spots.

One of the most critical aspects of dentures is that the impression of the denture must be perfectly made and used with perfect technique to make a model of the patient's edentulous (toothless) gums.

The denturist must use a process called border molding to ensure that the denture flanges are properly extended. An endless array of never-ending problems with denture may occur if the final impression of the denture is not made properly.

It takes considerable patience and experience for a denturist to know how to make a denture, and for this reason it may be in the patient's best interest to seek a specialist, either a Denturist or a Prosthodontist, to make the denture.

A general dentist may do a good job, but only if he or she is meticulous and usually he or she must be experienced.