FULL DENTURES:

A complete denture, also known as a full denture, takes up the whole mouth rather than just a part of it. It’s a removable device that can be used to replace missing teeth and is used by someone who has lost all of their teeth. Complete dentures are usually made from acrylic.

There are two parts of a complete denture:  

• Artificial teeth. These function like regular teeth, and help you chew and bite food as you did before tooth extraction. They also restore the appearance of natural teeth. 

Denture base. This part of the denture acts as a foundation for artificial teeth and also restores the defective soft and hard tissues.

However, since your mouth is slightly different on the upper and lower parts of your jaw, your denture will also be somewhat different.  

Full upper denture. This part of the denture is called the maxillary arch and features a plate covering the roof of the mouth. 

Full lower denture. This section is the mandibular arch and is a horse-shoe shaped denture that rests on the gum and bone tissues.

PARTIAL DENTURES:

Removable partial dentures can replace one or more missing teeth. They have a realistic appearance, imitating natural teeth, and are generally less expensive and invasive than other tooth replacement options. This makes them the perfect transitional choice between more extensive periodontal treatments and an excellent aesthetic measure for missing teeth. A removable partial denture fills in specific gaps in the mouth, not the entire mouth. 

Removable partial dentures, also known as RPDs, are made to look like and imitate your natural teeth. Made from imitation replacement teeth and attached to a gum-colored plastic base, this denture base will fit snugly against your gum line and cover any empty space with imitation teeth, sitting in the mouth like a retainer tray.

To keep the RPD in place, the fixture attaches to healthy surrounding teeth, also known as abutment teeth, via metal or plastic clasps. These clasps will often be made from metal such as titanium or chrome and will easily secure to the surrounding teeth for a secure fit. These clasps are vital to an RPD’s efficiency, and poorly fitted clasps could damage the remaining teeth and the gums.

Each RPD is customized to the patient. 

Discover your options today by requesting an appointment to discuss your situation with Dr. Dounski.