Missing teeth can not only be inconvenient, as you are not able to eat and speak normally, but they can also cause your facial structure to change, since there are no teeth to maintain the shape of the jaw bone. A good teeth replacement option is dentures, either partial or complete. These dental prosthetics consist of prosthetic teeth on a gum-colored base and are worn over the gums. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth have been lost (or extracted), and partials are used when some natural teeth remain. If you are looking for a teeth replacement option, dentures may be your solution.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures come in two types: conventional and immediate. Conventional dentures are custom-made. They are not measured for until all the teeth have been removed from the mouth, and the gum tissue has begun to heal. They are ready to be worn about eight to twelve months after the teeth have been removed. This results in a more comfortable denture that provides more functionality.

Immediate dentures, on the other hand, are made before the teeth are removed. They can be positioned as soon as the teeth have been extracted, eliminating any period of time in which the patient is toothless. This can be more convenient, but, because the bones and gums will change and shrink during the healing period, the dentures will need adjustments to maintain their fit. At our office, we generally recommend using immediate dentures only as a temporary solution while waiting for conventional dentures to be completed.

Partial Dentures

Unlike complete dentures, which are worn directly on the gums, partial dentures sometimes have a metal framework connected to their pink or gum-colored plastic base to hold them in place. When there are teeth remaining in the mouth, and these teeth are still healthy and usable, dentists will want to keep them rather than extract them to make room for complete dentures. In addition to restoring functionality and appearances to the teeth, partial dentures prevent the remaining teeth from changing position along the gum line.

Both complete and partial dentures are removable and, though they are prosthetics, will require regular maintenance to remain in good condition. They should be taken out and cleaned daily and should be stored in a liquid (either water or a denture-soaking solution) overnight.

If you are tired of living with missing teeth, book an appointment to take a look at your teeth replacement options today.