What are dentures?
Dentures replace missing teeth and their adjacent tissues with a removable dental
appliance. Dentures are made of acrylic resin or a combination of acrylic and metals.
What are the different types of dentures?
There are 2 main types of dentures:
Complete. This type of denture replaces all of the teeth and their adjacent tissues in an arch.
Partial. This type of denture is used to replace some, but not all of the teeth in an arch
because the person is only missing certain teeth.
Complete and partial dentures can be placed either after the teeth are removed and
the gums have healed (conventional) or immediately after the teeth are removed (immediate).
Conventional. Conventional dentures allow a recovery time (usually 4 to 8 weeks) after all of the
teeth are extracted before the dentures are placed in the mouth.
Immediate. This type of denture does not allow a healing period after all of the teeth are removed.
The denture is immediately fit into the mouth after all teeth are removed. More adjustments
in the fitting of this type of denture procedure may be needed as healing occurs.
In some cases, select roots are retained or dental implants are placed and the complete
or partial denture is made to fit over these roots or implants . The appliance is
called an overdenture. Saving some key roots or placing implants can help retain the
bone in the jaw that supports the denture.
Oral health and denture care
Every day, remove and brush the denture carefully with a brush and toothpaste, both
specifically designed for denture cleaning. Clean the denture over a towel or bowl
of water in case you drop it.
Don't use of harsh abrasive cleaners on your denture.
Don't clean or sterilize your denture in hot or boiling water. This can damage the
If a partial denture is in place, remove it before brushing your natural teeth.
Once removed, keep the denture in a safe place, out of the reach of children and pets.
Once removed, soak the denture in a proper cleansing solution or water. Do not use
bleach solutions. They will attack the metal and bleach the color out of the resin.
Do not wear your dentures at night while you are sleeping. This will irritate the
tissues and promote growth of fungus.
Have any remaining teeth cleaned every 6 months by an oral health professional.
Contact your dentist if your denture becomes loose, is too tight, or is irritating
the tissues in any way.