Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are simply replacement teeth attached to a pinkish or “gum-colored” plastic base. The base is held by a metal framework which helps fixate the denture in the mouth. Partial dentures help fill in spaces created by missing teeth and help restore a beautiful smile. Partial dentures also assist in chewing food properly, improved speech, and proper facial support for the mouth.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures can be found in two forms, “conventional” or “immediate”. These dentures are inserted onto the gums once the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has started to heal. Conventional dentures are generally ready to be placed in the mouth within 8-12 weeks after the teeth extractions.

Immediate dentures, however, are made to be placed as soon as the teeth have been extracted. The major plus of immediate dentures is that the patient does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. On the contrary, since bones and gums shrink over time it may be a disadvantage to have immediate dentures because they require more adjustments to fit properly during the healing process. Immediate dentures are usually considered a temporary solution to replace teeth until conventional dentures can be made.