Dentures are removable false teeth made of acrylic (plastic), nylon or metal. They fit snugly over the gums to replace missing teeth and eliminate potential problems caused by gaps.
Gaps left by missing teeth can cause problems with eating and speech, and teeth on either side of the gap may grow into the space at an angle.
Sometimes all the teeth need to be removed and replaced.
You may therefore need either:
- Complete dentures (a full set) – which replace all your upper or lower teeth, or
- Partial dentures – which replace just 1 tooth or a few missing teeth
How are dentures fitted?
Complete dentures:
A full denture will be fitted if all your upper or lower teeth need to be removed or you’re having an old complete denture replaced.
The denture will usually be fitted as soon as your teeth are removed, which means you won’t be without teeth. The denture will fit snugly over your gums and jawbone.
Partial dentures:
A partial denture is designed to fill in the gaps left by one or more missing teeth. It’s a plastic, nylon or metal plate with a number of false teeth attached to it.
It usually clips onto some of your natural teeth via metal clasps, which hold it securely in place in your mouth. It can easily be unclipped and removed.
After having dentures, it’s important to regularly remove plaque and food deposits from your dentures. This is because unclean dentures can also lead to problems, such as bad breath, gum disease, tooth decay and oral thrush. Therefore, clean your dentures as often as you would normal teeth (at least twice a day: every morning and night).
References:
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dentures/