DENTURES

Dentures are a set of artificial teeth fabricated for patients who have lost their normal teeth partially or completely. Dentures can help the edentulous patients (with no teeth) to give better chewing efficiency as well as enhance their aesthetic aspects by providing the illusion of having natural teeth and also stretch loose muscle of the mouth.

A. COMPLETE DENTURES

They are a full set of removable artificial teeth that rest directly on the gums.
If you have lost all your natural teeth, whether from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, complete dentures can replace your missing teeth and your smile. Natural teeth and the underlying bone provide a framework that supports the structures of your face including your lips, cheeks and nose.

When teeth are lost, the face will sag creating a look of premature aging. You also can not speak clearly and distinctly.
 

a. Normal Dentures (Hard Based)    
These are normal hard based dentures fabricated in dental labs by heat cured acrylic materials
Advantages:  Economic
Disadvantages: Being hard based can make the ulcers over the oral mucosa during the initial days.
The ridges which take the load of dentures resorb very fast. Hence, after wearing these dentures for a considerable duration, patients feel their loosening and inefficiency to chew.   

b. Soft Reline Dentures
Occasionally, a patient finds that he cannot wear the denture because his gums are too tender, and he keeps getting sore spots.  In cases where the patient is unable to wear ordinary dentures because of tender gums, the denture can be relined with a material that remains somewhat pliable for a year or two before it needs replacement.  The consistency of this material can range from waxy to hard rubber, and is generally less likely to give the patient sore spots than ordinary pink acrylic.

A soft denture reline is still considered the best type of reline available and long lasting. The main difference with a soft reline is the material used to replace the hard acrylic. A softer, porous material is used, and provides more comfort for sensitive denture wearers. Soft relines, however, need more regular adjustments than hard relines.

 

These dentures have a same colored lining of a soft and compressible material over their tissue surface which is firmly attached to the dentures and remain stable for many years.
 

Advantages

Do not impinge over the oral tissues so can be used in patients with sharp boney ridges and diabetics.
Light weighted.
Chewing efficiency is better than normal dentures.
Patient can chew anything from the very first day.
Ridges resorb very slowly. 

A. PARTIAL DENTURE

They are artificial teeth that replace several missing teeth. They are used by patients whose teeth aren't strong enough to support a fixed bridge.
Main objective is to restore function, speech, stability and aesthetics.

   

a. Flexible denture

Patients looking for a comfortable alternative to traditional dentures could be interested in Flexible dentures. Using advanced technology to fit around the shape of teeth and gums upon insertion, the flexible denture can be used when there is not enough bone for fitting dental implants to replace missing teeth.

The flexible denture works by flexing into position, not needing the use of metal clasping mechanisms to hold the dentures in place. Individuals with irregularities in the shape of their mouth could benefit greatly from the treatment and experience a growth to their self-confidence as a result.

Advantages
1) Being flexible retention is better than normal dentures.
2) Very light weighted
3) Do not impinge over the oral mucosa
4) Only two sittings are required
5) Being unbreakable its life is 10 times more than normal dentures
6) Cosmetically better than the normal dentures because the gum tissues of the patients reflects through the denture material and the better quality of teeth are used.

b.  Cast Partial Dentures   
  
These dentures are fabricated in the lab with nickel chrome frameworks and setting teeth over them
 

Advantages
-Strength is better than normal dentures
-The teeth can be replaced over the framework after their abrasion so the patient can bear the same denture framework for a long period of time.
-The retention is better than normal dentures
-Gums of the patient resorb very slowly.