A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues. It is made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals. Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a Partial Denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other teeth from changing position. Complete dentures are either "conventional" or "immediate." A conventional denture is placed in the mouth about a month after all the teeth are removed to allow for proper healing, whereas an immediate denture is placed as soon as the teeth are removed. The drawback behind an immediate denture is that it may require more adjustments after the healing has taken place. A third type of denture is an Overdenture.  An overdenture is a type of denture that is secured by precision dental attachments. The attachments are placed in remaining tooth roots or dental implants, which have been placed specifically for the overdenture attachment.

Who is a candidate for a Full Denture?

Candidates for complete dentures have lost most or all of their teeth. A partial denture is suitable for those who have some natural teeth remaining. A denture improves chewing ability and speech, and provides support for facial muscles. It will greatly enhance the facial appearance and smile.

What is the process of making a Full Denture?

A dentist can make a full conventional denture when all teeth have been lost or all extraction sites have healed (up to eight weeks or longer.) The denture process takes about one month and five appointments: the initial diagnosis is made; an impression and a wax bite are made to determine vertical dimensions and proper jaw position; a "try-in" is placed to assure proper color, shape and fit; and the patient's final denture is placed, following any minor adjustments. New denture wearers need time to get accustomed to their new "teeth" because even the best fitting dentures will feel awkward at first. While most patients can begin to speak normally within a few hours, many patients report discomfort with eating for several days to a few weeks. To get accustomed to chewing with a new denture, start with soft, easy-to-chew foods. In addition, denture wearers often notice a slight change in facial appearance, increased salivary flow, or minor speech difficulty.

Denture Care and Maintenance

A denture base is made out of processed acrylic. The base is usually kept rather thin, which makes the denture very fragile. Therefore, it is important to handle it with care. Remove and brush the denture daily, preferably with a brush designed specifically for cleaning dentures, using either a denture cleanser or toothpastes. Never use harsh, abrasive cleansers, including abrasives toothpastes, because they may scratch the surface of the denture. Don't sterilize your denture with boiling water because it will cause it to become warped. If you wear a partial denture be sure to remove it before brushing your natural teeth. When not in use, soak it in a cleanser solution or in water. Get in the habit of keeping the denture in the same safe and handy place to reduce the likelihood of misplacement.

It is important to continue having regular dental checkups so that a dentist can examine oral tissues for signs of disease or cancer. As of aging, your mouth will continue to change as the bone under your denture shrinks or recedes. To maintain a proper fit over time, it may be necessary to adjust your denture or possibly remake your denture. Never attempt to adjust a denture yourself and do not use denture adhesives for a prolonged period because it can contribute to bone loss. When in doubt, consult your dentist.

Can a denture be worn at night?

This is probably one of the most asked questions from denture wearing patients.  Although you may be advised to wear your denture almost constantly during the first two weeks break-in period (even while you sleep), under normal circumstances it is considered best to remove it at night. Research has shown that removing the denture for at least eight hours during either the day or night allows the gum tissue to rest and allows normal stimulation and cleansing by the tongue and saliva. This promotes better long-term health of the gums.

What are the alternatives to dentures?

Dentures are no longer the only way to restore a mouth that has little or no non-restorable teeth. Strategically placed support, or implants, can now be used to support permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture. (We will address this in more detail in the Dental Implant section). The cost is of course much greater, but the implants and bridges more closely resemble the "feel" of real teeth. Dental implants are becoming the alternative of choice to dentures, but not everyone is a candidate for implants. Your dentist can best determine if you are a candidate for dental implants.

Overdentures

As already mentioned above, overdentures are designed to attach to an attachment mechanism placed into remaining tooth roots or dental implants.  A minimum of two attachments are necessary for overdentures to work and be properly balanced.

Anytime attachments are placed into remaining tooth roots, these roots will require a root canal procedure prior to cementing the attachments in place.  The root canal procedure will remove the nerve and enlarge the canal so that it can accommodate the post of the attachment.

If there are no teeth left, dental implants can be used to achieve the same kind of retention.  In fact, dental implants are usually preferred, because they will rarely if ever fracture under load.  Natural teeth that have undergone a root canal procedure, on the other hand, are more prone to fracture under the load of an overdenture.

The examples below illustrate the overdenture concept somewhat.