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 partial 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.