New Denture Technology
Types of Dentures
Which Denture is right
for you?
Learn about the Denture
that May be Right for You
Partial Dentures
When
a person has lost some but not all of their teeth, a partial denture
may be the desired treatment choice. In this situation, partial
dentures can provide a simple and attractive way to replace missing
teeth.
Partial
dentures are created from an impression of your teeth and gum which
ensures a synonymous fit with the rest of your mouth. These appliances
are designed to fill in the empty spaces, and to ensure an attractive,
gap-free smile. Teeth are selected to match your remaining teeth
and complement your individual appearance. Special care is taken
to match the size, shape, and color to that of your natural teeth.
The result is a seamless replacement that can blend in with your
natural teeth.
Retained
by small clasps that engage the teeth, the denture will secure itself
in your mouth. In the right situation, if properly designed and
constructed, your partial denture will be both comfortable to wear
and will function in accord with your remaining natural teeth.
Partial
dentures will also help to maintain the spacing of your natural
teeth. When teeth are lost or removed, the remaining teeth will
often shift to eventually fill the gap created by the lost tooth.
This change in teeth spacing can affect the way you bite. This
can lead to numerous problems, such Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)
problems that could cause headaches, ear aches, clicking or popping
sounds, or even difficulty moving your jaw. Partial dentures aim
to prevent these problems by working to keep your remaining teeth
in their natural position.
There
are three types of partial dentures offered in our office:
 |
Conventional
Partial Dentures - These have metal frameworks and metal
clasps that snap over certain remaining teeth to gain support. |
 |
Hidden
Partial Dentures - These partial
dentures are made to show as little metal as possible. Either the
clasps are designed in a way to minimize their appearance, or "attachments"
are used. These are little devices buried in the denture that lock
into crowns for stability, but are not visible to other people. |
 |
Flexite
Partial Dentures - These are
all acrylic partial dentures that have either pink, white or clear
acrylic clasps. The clasps almost become invisible because they
blend in so well.
|
Overdentures
These
are dentures that rest on top of any short, remaining teeth in the
mouth. Frequently, these teeth need endodontic treatment (root canal
therapy). They can then be modified or protected. This is
an excellent option when there are still existing teeth that may
not be able to support the functions of the mouth alone.
Full
Dentures
When
a patient has no teeth, dentures are the first treatment choice
to help restore some of the function and
of your teeth.
Immediate Dentures
When
infected teeth have to be removed, an immediate denture is the first
step to reactivating your smile.
Implant
Retained Dentures
These
are dentures that rest on top of surgically placed implants.
