Dental Dentures

What are Dental Dentures & Partial Dentures?

Dentures are customized devices designed to replace all missing teeth on the entire upper or lower arch. Traditional dentures are removable and rely only on the gums and soft tissues for support. They can be fixed on top of the specialized implants to make them more secure.

Removable partial dentures offer an option for patients who are missing some teeth on an arch. They typically have clasps and require neighboring teeth as anchors. This type of prosthetic appliance is quickly being replaced with implants or fixed porcelain bridges due to the negative impact on the adjacent teeth.

Dentures are custom made in a dental laboratory from impressions taken of your mouth. Dr. Bellam and the team offer a range of dentures for our patients, depending on their needs. Some options include acrylic dentures, metal-based dentures, and Valplast dentures. Call us today to discuss the best-suited option for you.

Types of Dentures

Dentures are broadly classified into the following types:

Complete Dentures: Dr. Bellam and team may recommend complete dentures with no teeth left in their mouth (edentulous patients). The type depends on the budget, aesthetic requirement, and the patient's jawbone structure. In edentulous patients, having a complete set of dentures (both upper and lower) is essential.

Partial Dentures: This type of denture is handy when some teeth are still left in the mouth. Moreover, the patient opts to keep the teeth as such. A fixed partial denture or a dental bridge is a restorative set of artificial teeth that are used to replace one or more missing teeth. A patient must have a healthy bone structure on both sides of the gap to hold a bridge.

Types of Complete Dentures

Fixed Dentures

Fixed dentures are fully functional teeth mounted over implants to provide better stability. These are also known as implant-based dentures for this reason. Fixed Dentures are relatively more expensive than other types of dentures.

Removable Dentures

These are completely removable dentures and are mounted on the gums. Elderly patients typically use these. A removable partial denture (RPD) is made of a gum-colored plastic base where artificial teeth are attached. The base is interconnected by a metal framework holding the denture.

Snap-on Dentures

Snap-on dentures are known as mini implant-retained dentures, as these are secured over mini-implants. These are used in patients with low jawbone density.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are recommended when some teeth are still left in the mouth. Along with filling the gap, it also prevents further tooth decay.

At Restore Smiles Dental, Dr. Bellam and the team offer various types of dentures to suit your dental needs.