Missing teeth can be a huge problem. Without all of your teeth it is difficult to chew, speak, and your embarrassment to smile can wreck your self-confidence. If you are partially or fully edentulous, you don’t have to be embarrassed to smile. Partial or complete dentures can restore your ability to chew, speak clearly, and smile fully. If you’re embarrassed to smile, don’t worry, dentures can help!
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are a great way to fill in those vacant spots throughout your dental ridge. If you have more than one tooth missing on the same dental ridge, but the missing teeth are not all in a row and there are healthy teeth between the spaces, a partial denture can be configured to fill in those spaces and work around the healthy teeth. Partial dentures consist of a pink, plastic base that will blend in with your gums. The base is topped with replacement teeth and is held in place with a metal framework.
Complete Dentures
Complete dentures are for the fully edentulous–patients who have lost all of their teeth on either their upper or lower dental ridge, or both. Complete, also referred to as full dentures, also consist of a pink, plastic base that holds your complete, or full set, of replacement teeth for either your upper ridge or lower dental ridge. Complete dentures are not held in place by a metal frame, but rather by natural suction and denture adhesive. If you are looking into, or already have full dentures and are interested in long-term stability, ask Dr. Huffstutler about implant-supported dentures.