Which Denture Type Is Right for You?
Choosing your first set of dentures can be complicated. There are a variety of options to choose from, each serving a different purpose.
You want to make sure you choose the ones that will work best for your personal situation, so today our professionals at European Denture Center will walk you through the different types of dentures.
They’ll also give you tips on which denture type is right for you.
Types of Dentures
There are basically three types of denture options you can choose from:
- Full dentures
- Partial dentures
- Implant dentures
Here’s what you need to know about each of them.
Full dentures
Full dentures are designed to replace a full set of teeth – bottom row, top row, or both. They include a flesh-colored acrylic base that comfortably sits over the gums and enables a firm attachment, either along the bottom of the mouth or the roof.
Full dentures are recommended for people who have lost their entire set of teeth or are in the process of losing them due to advanced decay or severe damage.
When getting full dentures, your denturist will present you with two options: to get either a conventional set of full dentures or an immediate set of full dentures.
A conventional set of full dentures is fitted after the gums have completely healed following an extraction process. This can take up to 8-12 weeks.
Immediate dentures, on the other hand, are available right after the extraction process. While convenient, they do have a downside. As the gums heal over the course of the first several months, they change shape. The fitted immediate denture may need replacing quickly to fit the reshaped tissues.
Partial dentures
Unlike full dentures, partial dentures are only meant to replace a few teeth and fill the gaps in the mouth. They include a pink-colored base that can be attached to natural teeth in several ways through rigid metal or gum-colored flexible plastic clasps. In most cases, the latter option is preferred because it gives dentures a more natural look. The construction of partial dentures can either be all acrylic or partially acrylic.
Implant dentures
Last but not least, we have implant dentures.
Implant dentures serve the same purpose as partial dentures, i.e., they’re used to replace only missing teeth and fill in gaps in the mouth, as opposed to replacing an entire set of teeth.
The difference, however, lies in how they are fitted in the mouth.
While partial dentures are removable, implant dentures are surgically attached to your jawbone through implants. Because they are permanently fixed in your mouth they’re more stable, more durable, and look more natural.
However, while it sounds the perfect solution not everyone can have implant dentures. To be a good candidate for an implant denture, you need to have sufficient jawbone and healthy gums.
Implant dentures are also the more expensive of the three denture types.
While these guidelines were developed to help you get an idea about which denture type is right for you, your denturist can give you personalized advice and help you pick the best product for your mouth.
A BONUS read: Getting Dentures for the First Time? Here’s What to Expect!
