What are the Different Types of Dentures?

by | Jan 19, 2023

There’s more than one way to get a perfect smile. There are some people who, thanks to genetics, are simply born with a perfect set of teeth. However, those people are just the lucky ones, and certainly in the minority! The majority of us need a little bit of help in order to have a picture-perfect smile. How we get there will depend on various factors, including our genetics, age, and what is holding back our smile in the first place. For some people, this will mean veneers; for others, it’ll mean getting braces such as Invisalign.

And for some people, it’ll mean dentures. If you have one or missing teeth, then it’ll be dentures that help to give you the smile you want! But even in this category of dental treatment, there are subcategories. There are different types of dentures available.

In this blog, we’re going to look at the different types of dentures that we offer here at Dynamic Smile Design. No matter what type of treatment you need or are looking for, we’ll have a solution that will help to bring your smile back to life.

IMPLANT SUPPORTED DENTURES

Implant supported dentures come with a lot of benefits over other types of dentures, especially for certain patients. Yet oddly, not a lot of people know about them! They’re a popular choice because, unlike traditional dentures, which use an adhesive to stick to the gums, this option is fastened more securely.

You can think of implant supported dentures as something like a cross between traditional dentures and dental implants. The denture is fastened into position using an implant, which functions to stabilize the denture. Regular dentures are removed all the time, for various reasons, but implant supported dentures are permanent. While they can be removed for cleaning and so forth, they’ll by and large just be a part of your mouth. In this sense, they’re similar to a regular teeth.

Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of this type of dentures:

Better Chewing Action

It’s more than possible to chew normally using traditional dentures. However, it does take some time to learn how to do so, especially since those types of dentures are more likely to slip. Implant support dentures are much more stable, so there’s no slippage, and indeed, the chewing action feels the same as regular teeth. So you’ll just be able to eat in your usual way.

They Look Like Natural Teeth

There are no chances taken when it comes to implant supported dentures. They’re made using precise measurements of the mouth, including the gums and the remaining teeth. When it comes to getting them fit, the fake teeth will look so natural that people you interact with will be unlikely to tell that they’re fake! Old versions of dentures used to look unnatural because they were not custom-made to match the wearer’s mouth. But that’s not the case with implant supported dentures.

They’re a Secure Fit

It’s normal that some people shied away from getting dentures in the past since they were not very secure, and could present problems, such as slipping. The implant option functions differently. They’ll be secure in their post, which means you’ll be able to enjoy all the benefits of having a perfect set of teeth without the potential downsides.

FULL DENTURES

If you’ve ever thought of dentures before, then it’ll likely have been “full dentures” that you held in your mind. These aren’t suitable for everyone. Generally, they’re reserved for people who have lost a full — or near full — row of teeth. In that case, it would make more sense to remove the remaining teeth, and go for a full denture set. It can be intimidating to think that you’re going to lose all of your teeth, but it can be the best course of action — especially since you’ll have a replacement set in no time at all.

The dentures will be custom-made to fit your mouth. They’ll look like a row of teeth fitted to a gum-colored base. Typically, they’ll take around 8 – 12 weeks to make and be fitted. This allows for optimal recovery time from the tooth removal, and will ensure a longer-lasting, more secure fit.

If that’s too long to wait, then you may have the option of getting immediate dentures. As the name suggests, these are fitted immediately. The downside of immediate dentures is that they’re more likely to become loose, and will need realigning sooner than other options.

PARTIAL DENTURES

Not everyone will need a full row of teeth. If you’re only missing one or two teeth, then you may be able to get by with partial dentures. Just as with the other types of dentures, you can get the meaning from the name. They’re partial dentures, which is to say, they cover part of the mouth.

The benefit of these types of dentures is that it can restore a smile back to its former glory quickly, and without having to remove any further teeth. The fake tooth (or teeth) will be positioned in your mouth using metal clasps or using an adhesive.

CONCLUSION

As we’ve seen, there’s no reason to settle for a smile that you’re less than happy with, especially if the reason for your unhappy smile is due to missing teeth. There’s not just a solution to this problem — there are several solutions, which means that you and Dr. Elena C. Patel will be able to find the one that’s right for your particular circumstances.

If you’re ready to begin your journey towards restoring your smile through the use of dentures, then contact us here at Dynamic Smile Design. Dr. Patel is considered to be one of the best general and cosmetic dentistry professionals in her field, and has been serving members of the community for more than twenty years. Schedule an appointment today!