If you’re missing all or some teeth or know someone with a similar concern, you might be looking into what you need to get done. Dentures may be the right solution for you. What are dentures, and what you need to know about them is the focus of this article.
Dentures
Dentures are artificial replacements that can be either removable or fixed. They support missing teeth and the tissue surrounding them. There are two types of dentures dentists recommend based on patient requirements. Fixed dentures, which include crowns and bridges, are held permanently inside the mouth post-treatment. Removable dentures, however, are detachable replacements.
Fixed Dentures
Crowns and bridges make up the fixed dentures that are placed permanently. A crown replaces one tooth, while a bridge can replace one or multiple teeth. A full crown covers all of the tooth while, as the name suggests, a partial crown covers only part of it. A bridge can only be used if some stable teeth exist for its support or if dental implants can be fixed first. The teeth which support the bridge are called the abutment teeth. For both crowns and bridges, initial tooth treatment is needed to shape the tooth in the form of a mold.
Dental Implants
Dental implants refer to artificial tooth roots which are used to keep the teeth replacements at a fixed position. They can hold crowns and bridges, and they are joined to the jawbone for stable support. Artificial teeth which are fixed through dental implants are called superstructures.
Removable Dentures
As the name implies, removable dentures are not fixed permanently and can be removed whenever needed. When all of the patient’s teeth are missing, then complete dentures are used. However, if some natural teeth remain, then partial dentures must be used.
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are used when not all teeth are missing. The remaining natural teeth can be used as support for partial dentures. Implants can also be used to fix partial dentures. They can be removed at any time.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are missing. They can replace all of them in the upper and/or lower jaw and can assist a patient in speaking and chewing normally. They must be fitted precisely on the jaw. Complete dentures can be made ‘immediate’ or ‘conventional’ as per patient requirements.
To know more about denture treatment, you can check out the dental services we provide. If you’re in Germantown and require a professional opinion on your denture care or other general dentistry services, please contact our expert dental team at Advanced Dental Center.
