TREATMENTS

Dentures

A denture is an appliance that is inserted in the mouth to replace natural teeth and gums.  It aids in chewing and provides support for the cheeks and lips.

Dentures are made of acrylic and can be fabricated different ways.

  • A conventional denture is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have healed.
  • An immediate denture is fabricated and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted.  The gum and bone tissues are allowed to heal under the denture.
  • An immediate load denture is fabricated and attached to implants immediately after implants are placed.  The implants are allowed to heal for four months under the denture after which time a final denture (hybrid) is fabricated.  Since hybrid dentures are attached to implants, the do not move or float in your mouth.
  • A conventional upper denture covers the roof of the mouth, is retained by suction and usually is well-tolerated by most patients.  A conventional lower denture tends to float because they are shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue.   

Denture teeth are made usually made of plastic. Dentures can be fabricated to fit over endodontically treated teeth and a complete denture can be attached to dental implants to allow for a more secure fit of the appliance as mentioned above.

The biting surface of dentures over time will wear and need to be replaced.  Without dental implants, the bone and gum ridges under the denture will atrophy (recede or shrink) due the lack of internal stress of the boney ridge and the underside of the denture will need to be relined periodically. Regular dentist examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.