Dentures

There are two types of removable dentures to replace missing teeth: partial and full dentures. Both types are made in a dental lab, based on a mold (or an impression) of your mouth.

A partial denture is also called a "removable partial denture" or a "partial." It is made up of one or more false teeth, usually has a metal framework and is held in place by clasps that fit onto nearby teeth. You can take the partial denture out yourself, for cleaning and at night. A partial denture may be used when nearby teeth are not strong enough to hold a bridge, or when more than just a few teeth are missing on both sides.

A full denture is also called a "complete denture" or "false teeth." It is used when all your natural teeth are missing due to advanced decay or severe bone loss. A complete denture can be placed on top of your gums or used with implants for increased stability.

Although removing diseased teeth is the quick and easy solution, the following disadvantages are present with each denture:

• You will give up 4/5th of you normal chewing power
• You will have a diminished sense of taste and temperature
• You will have a very thin ridge covered by gum tissue that is 80% water to support your denture
• You will need periodic relines to make up for lost bone
• You will get food debris under your partial or denture
• Without implants you will need to use denture adhesive to help hold them in your mouth
• Bacterial contamination in the plastic can give you denture breath
• You will not be able to bite into anything with your front teeth
• Your speech will change
• Your denture can be lost and/or broken and you may loose teeth from them
• Partial denture clasps may hold food against your teeth and cause decay
• Partial denture metal frameworks are bulky

How to Care For Dentures:

Step 1: Keep your denture clean. Plaque builds up on a denture just like it does on natural teeth. Unless plaque is removed from your partial denture, it can spread to your natural teeth and gums, causing gum disease and cavities. Plaque build up on your false teeth can cause denture odor and mouth irritation.

Step 2: Remove your denture every night unless your bite down on your remaining teeth or overclosure causes a strain in your jaw joints Brush your natural teeth and your gums carefully with a soft toothbrush: brush your dentures with the specialized brush for this purpose. If your toothbrush hurts you, run it under warm water to make it softer, or try using a finger wrapped in a clean, damp cloth. Plaque not removed can make gums and teeth more sensitive

Step 3: Soak your denture overnight. It can be soaked in a special cleaner (called denture cleanser), in warm water or in a half-and-half mix of warm water and vinegar. If your denture has metal clasps, soak it in warm water only. Soaking will loosen plaque and tartar, so they will come off more easily when you brush. Brush and rinse your denture well before you put it back in. Store your denture in its denture bath in water with a small amount of mouthwash added as an antibacterial agent.

Step 4: See your dentist regularly. Your mouth is always changing, so your denture will need adjusting from time to time to make sure it fits well. If you have a partial denture, regular check-ups are important to make sure that your natural teeth and gums get the care they need. Metal clasps are designed to flex and therefore will get loose and need to be tighten. An oral cancer examination is recommended once a year regardless of the number of teeth you have left.