Dentures Specialist

What Are Partial Dentures?

Partial dentures are removable dental devices that provide replacements for people who are missing some of their natural teeth. Partial dentures fill in the holes left by the missing teeth and help maintain proper spacing for the remaining natural teeth.

What Are Complete Dentures?

Complete dentures are removable whole mouth teeth replacement devices. When all of the teeth are missing, replacement teeth are mounted to a base that will suction directly to the gums. There are two kinds of complete dentures, immediate and conventional. Immediate dentures are designed to be worn by patients who have recently had all their teeth removed in preparation for dentures. These immediate dentures provide a temporary replacement for the teeth while the gums heal from the teeth removal surgery. Once the mouth has fully healed from the teeth removal (usually around a month to six weeks), the immediate dentures can be replaced by conventional dentures that will be used long term.

How do Dentures Function?

Dentures typically have a flexible acrylic base. This base is shaded to look just like natural gum tissue, and because it is so flexible it can suction to the gums. Dentures are made based on exact mouth measurements, so they will stay in place once they are put in the mouth. Some people may feel more secure about denture stability if they add a small amount of denture adhesive to the denture base before placing the dentures in the mouth.

How Long do Dentures Last?

The teeth in dentures will usually last a lifetime. The base of the dentures may need to be either rebased or relined around every 10 years, depending on the patient. Relining adds a new layer to the base to improve fit, while rebasing will create an entirely new denture base. Dr. Miller at Dentistry in Paradise ensures the stability of dentures with dental implants if the patient requires it. With proper care, denture wearers will be able to wear their dentures for a very long time.