If you are missing teeth, it may be affecting your ability to chew or speak properly. Full or partial dentures may be a good tooth replacement option for you to correct this issue. Unlike dental implants, dentures are removable, but look and function like natural teeth.
Dentures can improve a patient’s quality of life by boosting their confidence, and appearance and maintaining the shape of their jawline. Here are some differences between the two types of denture options.
What are Partial Dentures?
If you are missing some, but not all of your teeth, a removable partial denture may be the best solution for you. A partial denture starts with a base that resembles natural gums and houses a few false teeth. This device is custom-fit for your mouth, so it sits snugly against your gums and will not slip. It will usually be attached to the remaining teeth with metal framework clips.
Besides filling the gaps of missing teeth, false teeth provide other benefits. Your remaining surrounding teeth will not have the opportunity to shift or cause problems with your alignment and bite. Instead of fixed devices, which are permanent, a partial denture can be removed for cleaning and other needs, so this may be an attractive feature for your specific needs.
What are Full Dentures?
If you have lost all of your teeth, or only have a couple left, you may benefit from a full set of complete dentures. If you do have any teeth remaining, they will need to be extracted before you can be fit for full dentures. If this is the case, your options are either immediate or conventional.
Immediate dentures are placed in the mouth as soon as possible. They are crafted before you have your teeth extracted. This is a good choice if you do not want to wait for your dentures. Unfortunately, the healing process when teeth are removed will cause your mouth bone and gums to shrink. This means that the set of dentures may need to be adjusted one or more times while your mouth heals.
Conventional dentures are crafted after all of your teeth are pulled, and your mouth has fully healed. This whole process may take up to three months before you have a full set of teeth in your mouth again. The perk of this is that your dentures will not need to be resized over time.
How Do We Craft Dentures?
First, Dr. Hawkins will make a set of impressions of your gums and measure your mouth. Sometimes, we will make models and forms before the real dentures to ensure we have created an accurate fit and realistic tooth shape. This is true for both full and partial dentures.
If you are missing teeth and want a removable replacement option, dentures may be the right choice for you. At Hawkins Dentistry in Marysville, Ohio, we will discuss your situation and offer the best solution for your individual needs. If you want more information about dentures or our other restorative treatments, call our office today!
