Conventional Dentures
Missing teeth, if not replaced, can cause far more dental problems than just an unattractive smile. It is important to replace missing teeth because they help in chewing food, support the facial muscles, and are critical for speech. Missing teeth can allow adjacent teeth to shift, and spaces increase the opportunity for decay and gum disease to set in.
Dentures are removable artificial teeth used to fill in the spaces left by missing teeth. They can be a treatment option to replace one tooth, several teeth, or even all the teeth in the mouth. They are made of different materials like acrylic resins, metal alloys, and porcelain, and are fabricated by the dental lab to look as natural as possible.
Removable full dentures are of two types: immediate full dentures and conventional full dentures. Immediate full dentures are made by the dental lab before the patient’s existing natural teeth are removed and are fitted in the patient’s mouth on the day of the tooth extractions. As the tissues heal following the extractions, these dentures typically require a reline procedure in the coming months to provide a better fit. Conventional full dentures are typically made to replace existing dentures.
Partial dentures are removable dental appliances that replace a single tooth or multiple missing teeth. They typically have a metal or acrylic framework that utilizes remaining teeth to provide retention and support to the artificial teeth set in acrylic resin.