Denture Types

Modern dentures are far removed from the days when you would order a pair of false teeth through the mail. Today, proper fitting and placement mean that your dentures can be almost as comfortable as natural teeth. In order to get the most from them, though, you need to be familiar with your options so you can choose the best type of dentures for you.

Features

Dentures are natural-looking, removable false teeth made from an acrylic resin. They consist of teeth set into a base section which is held to your gums by suction. They may be complete dentures, if they are replacing all your teeth, or partial dentures, if some of your natural teeth remain.

You may choose dentures out of necessity, if you have lost too many teeth to be able to chew or speak properly or for cosmetic reasons, if your natural teeth are damaged and unattractive.

Complete Dentures

Getting complete dentures means you will have a full set of teeth in the denture, with none of your natural teeth remaining. This means you'll have to have your natural teeth extracted before you get your dentures.

There are two types of complete dentures. With standard dentures, you'll have a wait of eight to twelve weeks between the time your teeth are extracted and the time you get your dentures. Once you have your dentures, the fit should be right.

Immediate dentures, sometimes called temporary dentures, go into your mouth immediately after having your natural teeth pulled. The benefit of this is there's no awkward period without teeth. The drawback is that you'll have to go back for adjustments several times as the shape of your mouth changes after your tooth extraction. Eventually, after about six months, your immediate dentures will be relined with acrylic, changing them over to standard dentures.

Partial Dentures

With partial dentures, you retain some of your natural teeth. There are two types of partial dentures, depending on whether you're keeping mostly natural teeth and filling in gaps with dentures, or whether you're switching to mostly dentures with a few natural teeth remaining to stabilize them.

With a bridge, one or more false teeth are used to fill a gap between natural teeth. Crowns are attached to the teeth on either side of the gap, holding the bridge in place. Another type of partial denture, called CuSil dentures, are similar to complete dentures, but there are one or more holes left in the denture to allow natural teeth to come through. This can help hold the denture in place. It's generally more expensive than complete dentures.

Alternatives

Dental implants are more expensive than dentures, but they're gaining popularity, particularly in cases where only a few teeth need to be replaced. A titanium screw is put into the bone which normally supports the teeth, and once the screw has integrated into the bone, a porcelain tooth is attached to it. Unlike dentures, implants aren't removable.

Another way to use implants is to permanently attach a traditional denture. Two implants are inserted, and the denture is attached to them.

Considerations

One of the major considerations as you choose a type of dentures is how much you're able to spend. Dental implants will probably give you the least trouble, but they're also the most expensive. Other considerations are how much time you're willing to devote to the process and how much care you'll realistically be willing to give in maintaining your dentures. You should discuss all these things with your dentist and find the solution that will work best for your lifestyle.