What are Dentures?

Over time, people's teeth tend to naturally deteriorate. When a tooth has deteriorated substantially, it often needs to be extracted. And when multiple teeth are extracted, dentures may be the most appropriate solution. Dentures can create a natural and healthy looking set of teeth. As well, a properly fitting set of dentures can greatly enhance your smile and sense of self-esteem.

The Dentures Procedure

There are different types of dentures:

• Complete dentures are used when few of the original teeth remain. We begin by removing any remaining teeth so the dentures can be fitted. We then make a mold of the gums and send it to a dental lab where customized dentures are constructed. Patients are typically fitted with temporary dentures until the permanent set of dentures have returned from the laboratory.
• Partial dentures are prepared in much the same way as a complete set, and are utilized when only a few teeth are missing.
• Over Dentures - If the roots of a patient's remaining teeth (the tissue and gums) are strong, we may suggest over dentures. Over dentures fit on top of the remainder of teeth in the mouth. With over dentures, the remaining teeth are resculpted and covered with metal caps to stop future decay. The advantage of over dentures is that they do not have to be relined as frequently as a complete set of dentures because the jawbone and gums recede less. In addition, over dentures create less occlusion (bite) problems than complete dentures.