The Different Types of Dentures and Their Uses
Dentures in NW, Calgary are an effective method of replacing missing teeth. Look at the different types available in our denture clinic.
Losing your pearly whites is not an easy thing. Missing teeth are noticeable and can alter the quality of your life. Not only are the gaps aesthetically not appealing, but your speech, chewing, and even your facial structure will be altered.
There are myriad of reasons as to why you have lost your teeth ranging from extractions to accidents—irrespective of the reason you need an immediate solution that can restore your smile.
Modern dentistry has availed a plethora of options for missing teeth like implants that require surgery, and bridges. However, dental dentures are one of the best solutions for replacing missing teeth.
Dentures in NW, Calgary, also come in different types and can be used in various scenarios depending on your needs and preference. Without further ado, let’s look at the different dentures.
Complete Dentures
The conventional complete dentures are what our senior citizens typically use. They are designed to replace all your natural teeth. Our prosthodontist in Calgary will take the 3-D image of your mouth then create the denture.
Then you place the denture on the gums as opposed to bridges which need to anchor on your natural teeth. Typically, you will use dentures two to four months after extraction or tooth loss.
Complete dentures are removable and can be removed at the end of the day or when you need to clean them.
There are two types of complete dentures that you can choose from:
- Conventional Dentures
This type of dentures is made after your teeth have been extracted, and they have started healing. The denture will be ready to be placed within eight to twelve weeks after the tooth removal.
- Immediate Dentures
Immediate dentures are prepared beforehand and are placed in your mouth right after your tooth extraction. You do not have to remain toothless for a couple of months.
You should bear in mind that after extraction, the bone and gums shrink over time, and particularly during the healing period after tooth removal. Immediate dentures can be convenient, but they will not fit snuggly to your gums.
The manufacture of conventional dentures takes time, and during that time, adjustments can be made to accommodate the shrinkage that has been occurring throughout the healing process.
Immediate dentures are excellent if they are being used as a temporary option and conventional dentures as a permanent solution. Either way, you will discuss the issue further with our prosthodontist in Varsity.
Partial Dentures
A removable partial denture is appropriate when you have some of your natural teeth left. The partial denture has two pieces that hold it in the mouth. These pieces are the pink-colored base and the metal base. These pieces have the following benefits:
- They use your natural teeth anchors to fit in the mouth properly
- They can replace one or several teeth
- Prevents the teeth from shifting because of the gaps left by the missing teeth
Custom Dentures
These are a more costly alternative as compared to partial and complete dentures. You pay the extra buck because more expensive material will be used to make the dentures. They are custom-fitted to fit your mouth better than conventional dentures.
You will check the dentures before they are complete to verify that they are what you need. The reason for their precision is that they are molded using digital oral scans of your mouth.
Implant-Supported Dentures
If you are thinking of getting a more permanent solution, then implant-supported dentures will be appropriate for you. The dental implants are surgically inserted to serve as your natural teeth. Then the dentures are fixed on the implants.
For you to have implants, you need to have healthy gums and bones. If they are healthy but not enough, then bone and gum grafting will be done, so as they can support the implants.
The beauty of this type of denture is that it looks and feels like your natural teeth.
Overdentures
These type of denture is placed on top of your gums, and dental implants hold it in place. They can either be placed on the upper jaw or the lower jaw depending on your needs. It is removable.
Upper Dentures
As the name suggests, they are dentures that are used to replace your upper teeth. They are more common than the lower dentures.
Typically dentures can last for a minimum of five years and even longer depending on how you take care of them. If you need dentures, contact our prosthodontist near you at our denture clinic, Northwest Prosthodontics, to book an appointment.