Dentures replace missing teeth with an appliance made for the mouth it sits in. They can replace a single tooth, several teeth, or a full arch, resting on the gum ridge and, where natural teeth remain, on those teeth as well. Because removable dentures are taken out by the wearer, they can be cleaned properly and adjusted or relined as the mouth changes over time.
Complete and partial dentures
- A complete denture replaces all the teeth in one jaw. It rests on the gum ridge, and it is the fit of its base against the tissue that holds it in place.
- A partial denture replaces some of the teeth while the remaining natural teeth stay where they are. Its base carries the replacement teeth, with clasps or rests that steady it against the teeth on either side.
How a denture is made
The dentist takes impressions of the jaws and records how the upper and lower teeth meet, so that the denture is built to the bite and not only to the ridge. The shape, size and shade of the teeth are chosen with the face in mind. A trial fitting usually comes before the denture is finished, and that is the point at which the appearance and the bite can still be changed. Fitting appointments follow, because a new denture almost always needs adjusting.
Getting used to a denture, and looking after it
A new denture feels bulky at first, speech takes practice, and eating begins with soft food cut small. Sore spots in the early weeks are common and are relieved by adjustment rather than by leaving the denture out. Clean it over water or a folded towel, since it breaks if it lands on a hard surface, and use a denture brush rather than toothpaste, which is abrasive enough to scratch the base. The gum ridge changes shape over the years, so a denture that once fitted well will need relining or remaking, and the mouth is still checked at review appointments even where no natural teeth remain.
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