A denture is a removable appliance that replaces missing teeth and surrounding tissues. There are two types of dentures available: complete and partial dentures. Dentures are an option for patients who have severely broken down teeth that can not be restored, infected teeth and missing teeth.
Process of making a Denture;
Step 1: Initial impressions are taken and poured into stone model
Step 2: Special tray is then made from the stone model
Step 3: Second impressions are taken in the patient’s mouth that then construct the denture
Step 4: A bite registration and wax rim is taken to help construct the denture by giving the lab Technician correct measurements
Step 5: The denture is then constructed into a wax form; this is when you tell the dentist if you are happy with the fit, feel, appearance and colour of the teeth. This is the stage when changes can be made before the denture is processed into acrylic.
Step 6: The denture is processed in to acrylic and is inserted and you can leave with the denture.
Photos shown below of the different stages.
Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing. Full or complete dentures are plastic (acrylic) plate’s, custom made to fit each individual. The denture is made from pink acrylic simulating gum tissue and white acrylic teeth.
Immediate dentures are either complete (full) or partial dentures that are inserted on the same day teeth are removed. See photo above
Advantages of Immediate Denture:
Not having to appear to the public without teeth
Duplicate the shape, colour and arrangement of your natural teeth while some are still present in the mouth
Immediate dentures act as a “Band-Aid” to protect tissues and reduce bleeding once teeth are extracted on the same day as inserting the denture
Not having to learn to function without a denture in place and then later to relearn to function when a new denture is made
Allow to chew better than without any teeth and minimise facial distortion that may occur when removing the teeth.
Disadvantages of Immediate Denture:
Increased cost & more steps involved in the procedure
Can not always see how the denture will look before the teeth are extracted and the immediate denture is inserted
Initially the immediate denture will not fit accurately as conventional denture (which is made when the tissues have healed for 6 – 8 weeks following extractions)
Denture will need to be relined after healing has occurred
A partial denture is a removable denture that replaces one or more natural teeth that are missing.
It prevents the natural teeth in the mouth from moving from their original position.
There are 2 types of partial dentures:
The denture is made of a chrome frame with acrylic teeth and gums. The teeth are also made of acrylic. A chrome denture is a long term option that is sturdy long lasting and is recommended when the patient has a very strong bite. Chrome dentures are a more expensive option, but are uaually the most comfortable type of partial denture.
Acrylic dentures are made from acrylic that contain wire clasps. There to wrap around the remaining natural teeth so the denture fits comfortably. This is also a long term option but not as strong as a chrome denture. It can be a cheaper option.
Implant retained dentures are dentures that are held in place by implants. They usually are retained by 2 or more implants into the jaw bone. To be eligible for an implant retained denture you must have enough bone to support the implants. For this process the implants are placed and take at least 6 months to heal before the denture is able to be clipped onto the implants. The denture has housings in it with locators that stabilise the denture in place.