Removable Dentures

 

"A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two types of dentures are available - complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain". (More details at WebMD)

 

 Dental implants can be used to support permanently cemented bridges, eliminating the need for a denture, or can be used to increase the retention of the removable dentures.

 

Procedure

 

The process leading to removable dentures takes between three weeks and 1.5 months and spreads over several appointments. The general steps are to:

 

• Make a series of impressions and take a number of measurements of how your jaws relate to one another and how much space is between them.
• Create models, wax forms, and/or plastic patterns in the exact shape and position of the denture to be made. You will "try in" this model several times and the denture will be assessed for color, shape, and fit before the final denture is cast.
• Cast a final denture by a specialized dental laboratory
• Adjustments are made as necessary