When many or all teeth are lost or unrepairable in a dental arch, dentures might be the best viable option. Dentures are custom-made and can be taken out and put back in with ease. It does take some time to get used to dentures, and they may never feel the same as natural teeth, but they’re natural looking and more comfortable than in the past.
Dentures are custom-made from impressions taken of your mouth. There are two main types of dentures: full and partial. Conventional full dentures are placed in the mouth after all remaining teeth have been removed and tissues have healed. Healing may take several months. Immediate full dentures are instantly placed in the mouth after remaining teeth have been removed. While this allows you to not go without teeth, the immediate full dentures will have to be relined several months after being placed since the supporting bone reshapes as it heals causing the dentures to become loose.
Partial dentures can be created when several teeth are lost from a dental arch. They rest on a metal framework that attaches to the natural teeth, similar to an orthodontic retainer, and they are a removable alternative to dental bridges. Dr. Bridges or Dr. Buckner can help you decide if full or partial dentures are best for you depending on your situation.
