Types of denture

The denture - An appliance that replaces missingnatural teeth. A denture consists of a metal and/or acrylic (hard plastic) base that is mounted with acrylic teeth.

The artificial teeth are matched to the person’s original teeth. Denture baseplates, which are created from impressions taken from the upper and lower gums, fit the mouth accurately.

TYPES OF DENTURES
Partial dentures
Partial dentures are used when only some of the teeth are missing. They fill unsightly gaps,
make chewing easier, maintain clear speech, and keep the remaining teeth in the correct
position. Teeth on either side of a gap may tip (making cleaning more difficult) or drift (placing
unnatural stress on the tissues of the mouth). Partial dentures are held in place by metal clasps
that grip adjacent teeth or by clasps combined with metal rests (extensions of the denture plate
that rest on the surface of the tooth).
 
Full dentures
Full dentures are needed when there are no teeth left in the mouth. They stay in place by resting
on the gum ridges and, in the case of upper dentures, by suction. Fitting is sometimes delayed
after extraction of teeth to allow the gums to shrink and change shape as they heal.

Immediate dentures
Immediate dentures are fitted immediately after extraction of teeth. They protect the gum and
control bleeding from extraction sites. Since a toothless period is avoided, they are particularly
useful for replacing front teeth. However, they can be expensive and require follow-up visits so
that they continue to fit comfortably. They may also need replacing within a short time.