Dentures are a removable dental option for replacing missing teeth and surrounding tissue. They are made to resemble your teeth and may enhance your smile. Besides replacing missing teeth and tissue, dentures also help improving chewing, speech, and digestion. There are two types of dentures: complete and partial.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are used when all your teeth are missing. Complete dentures can be either "conventional" or "immediate." Conventional dentures are used when teeth must first be removed. They generally are ready for placement in the mouth about 8 to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed, when the gum tissue has begun to heal.
Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made in advance and can be positioned as soon as the teeth are removed. The advantage is the patient does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. On the other hand, since bones and gums tend to shrink during the healing period, immediate dentures compared may require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process. Immediate dentures normally are used until conventional dentures can be made.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are used when some of your natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. A bridge is first used to replace one or more teeth. Then, this "bridge" is cemented into place. A partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, while also preventing other teeth from changing position. A precision partial denture is removable and attaches to the adjacent crowns. This can be a more natural-looking appliance.
The process of getting dentures requires several appointments, usually over several weeks. Most dental insurance plans cover some or all of the cost of dentures. Talk to Dr. Sicher to determine if dentures are the right choice for you.
