If you read our last blog post and are considering dentures, you might be wondering exactly what “complete dentures” and “partial dentures” are.
Complete dentures are made after all the teeth have been removed. Complete dentures may be “conventional”, placed eight to twelve weeks after the teeth have been removed and the gums have begun to heal. Complete dentures may also be “immediate”, in which the dentures are molded prior to the teeth actually being removed and placed immediately after the teeth have been extracted, with no waiting time for gum healing or recovery. For this reason, we typically recommend conventional complete dentures when at all possible.
Partial dentures, on the other hand, may often be referred to as a “bridge”. Partial dentures normally consist of several molded replacement teeth attached to a plastic base, colored and formed to look like your gums. This device is placed within your mouth and connects to your jawbone via metal posts, making these dentures removable and semi-permanent.
Another approach for partial dentures can be a permanent bridge, replacing one or more missing teeth. With this approach, crowns are placed on the teeth on either side of the empty space, and the artificial teeth attached to them, with the bridge permanently cemented into the desired position in the mouth. This helps not only solidify the artificial teeth filling the missing space, but also fortify surrounding teeth and prevent them moving.
Many of today’s partial dentures are removable, lacking the clasps that typically attach to nearby crowns, providing a more natural appearance and a more removable solution.
If you have had a few teeth removed, instead of all your teeth, partial dentures can be an ideal solution to blend in naturally with your remaining teeth, whether in the upper or lower jaw.
If you are looking for a dental professional to help you regain a healthy smile, Dr. Majka can help. Dr. Joseph Majka is a dentist in Valparaiso, Indiana who has years of experience helping his clients with complete dentures and partial dentures alike. For gentle, caring dentistry, call Dr. Majka at (219) 464-7191 for an appointment today.