Individuals with missing teeth face a range of problems. Some of these issues include a loss of confidence in their smile and difficulty in eating or speaking. Dentures can help in replacing a person’s missing teeth or set of teeth. These are made according to a patient’s requirements. Other than this, dentures not only restore appearance but also the lost functions of the mouth. Dentures can either be full or partial. Full dentures are used to replace the entire teeth while partial dentures are used to replace some of the teeth.
Types of Dentures
Complete/Acrylic Dentures: They are made of a plastic base and can be easily moulded. Acrylic is the material used to make dentures. The plastic base can replicate gum tissue. It can also support a full set of porcelain or plastic teeth. Traditionally, full dentures are held in the mouth on the gums – they are held in place by attaching dental implants. It can be placed surgically in the bone of the jaws. Treatment can be more expensive in comparison to traditional complete dentures.
Partial Dentures: They can be made using a plastic base or a metal framework that support the number of teeth that needs to be replaced. It is held inside the mouth with the help of clasps and rests that can be placed around the natural teeth. Partial dentures use a metal framework which is a traditional design. It can be rigid and strong due to the presence of metal. Partial dentures made of plastic are normally used as a temporary replacement for missing teeth. It allows the gums and bone to heal before a solution is obtained. Various materials can provide flexible and durable alternatives in certain situations.
The making of dentures involves a certain process. Once a tooth is lost or removed, the tooth socket would fill in with bone and the gum tissue would start healing and bring about a change in the shape. This process takes a few months until the gums and bone reach a stable shape. Conventional and full dentures are made in about eight to twelve weeks once the teeth get extracted or are lost from the mouth. The dentist can begin by taking a series of teeth impressions of oral tissues that can support the dentures.
A dental lab makes use of such impressions to make models of the patient’s mouth. A laboratory technician or dentist can slowly start building the dentures on models and transferring it to the patient’s mouth to ensure proper fit, appearance and aesthetics of the dentures. Frequent dentist consultations are required to complete the dentures and to make adjustments to the dentures if needed.
Dentures can be temporarily made for the patient to use immediately. Such dentures are made before extracting the teeth and are put in place on the day the teeth get removed. In certain cases, the back teeth get removed first. The front teeth are left until the dentures are ready. Such temporary dentures don’t fit the bone and gum tissue like the conventional dentures. For this reason, it requires more adjustments during the healing stage. Immediate dentures can be replaced until the Acrylic Dentures or Partial Dentures are ready to be placed inside the mouth.