A denture is a
removable appliance for the replacement of missing teeth and adjacent tissues.
It is made of acrylic resin, sometimes in combination with various metals.
Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while a partial denture fills in the
spaces created by missing teeth and prevents other teeth from changing position
or shifting. Partial dentures usually contain a metal framework for support.
However, recently partial dentures have been constructed solely of acrylic resin
for cosmetic concerns. Complete dentures are either conventional or immediate. A
conventional denture is placed in the mouth about a month after all the teeth
are removed to allow for proper healing, whereas an immediate denture is placed
as soon as the teeth are removed. Complete dentures can also be supported by
implants if bone support is not adequate. This type of denture is referred to as
an overdenture.
Denture fabrication from start to finish normally takes about one month to
complete depending on the difficulty of the case. Several appointments at the
dental office is necessary. All denture users require some time to get
accustomed to the denture. Proper maintenance is important for a longer life
span of the denture. Regular removal and brushing of the denture with
conventional toothpaste is required on a daily basis. For partial denture users,
tooth brushing of existing teeth should be a daily home regimen. It is advised
to remove your denture at night and keep it in a wet environment. Research has
shown that keeping the denture out of the mouth at night allows tissues to heal
and normal stimulation of saliva to flow.
