Replacing Missing Teeth with Dentures or Partial Dentures
A denture, or a complete denture as it is often called, is an appliance that is inserted in the mouth, replaces natural teeth, and provides support for the cheeks and lips. At Kucey Dental Group, serving Red Deer, AB, and beyond, we can fit you for both complete and partial dentures. Learn more below, or contact us today to get started.
How Dentures Are Fabricated
Most dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated 2 different ways. Factors that go into denture fabrication include:
- A complete denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have healed.
- An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted and the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture.
- An upper denture has acrylic, usually flesh-colored, that covers the palate (roof of the mouth).
- A lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue.
The teeth are made with a strong resin denture teeth that mimic the real tooth shape, size and color. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over endodontically treated teeth (overdenture), and a complete denture can be attached to dental implants to allow for a more secure fit of the appliance.
Dentures over a normal course of time will wear and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment normal. The alignment will slowly change as the bone and gum ridges recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Regular dental examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures replace 1 or more teeth but still have tooth anchors where we typically can place clasps to aid in retention and stability. They can be made of acrylic, acrylic with clasps, or cast metal frameworks. They can have clasps or attachments (hidden) to help them stay in place. We can use dental implants to help in situations where additional retention or stability is needed.