A denture is a replacement for one or more missing teeth. Dentures are generally removable and come in two main types – partial and complete. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing (or have been extracted), and partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.
Complete dentures also come in two types – “conventional” and “immediate”. Conventional dentures are made after the teeth have been removed, and you must wait until your gums and bones have started to heal before you start to wear them. This can take up to 12 weeks after the teeth have been removed.
Immediate dentures, in contrast, are ready to wear as soon as your teeth have been removed. This means that you will not have to go through a period without teeth. However, immediate dentures will have to be adjusted as your mouth heals.
A partial denture is used when some natural teeth remain in place. This type of denture is removable and will attach to the remaining teeth via a plastic or metal framework. In other cases, a “fixed bridge” is used to replace teeth by cementing an artificial tooth to the two natural teeth next to it.
Though dentures have been used for decades, there are now some alternatives. Dental implants can remove the need for dentures, for example, and more closely resemble the look and feel of natural teeth. Here at Main Dental, we can guide you through the process of choosing and using dentures – from the initial fitting to ongoing care.
Do dentures ever feel normal?
If you want to know if your dentures will feel normal, the answer is yes. Today’s prosthetics feel more natural than ever, and you can get accustomed to them quickly.
How long do I have to wait to get dentures after my teeth are pulled?
In general, it usually takes between six and eight weeks following the tooth extraction for dentures to be placed.
However, each patient is unique. Some patients will have to wait more than a couple months while others will find as little as a month of waiting suffices.
How many visits do you need for dentures?
The other two types of dentures that are available are partial dentures and full dentures. Each of these takes anywhere from four to six visits to install correctly.
Naturally, these are estimated timings based on a perfect scenario and vary from patient to patient.
Is it time for dentures?
Getting dentures can be a stressful moment in your life, but we’re here for you. Book an appointment to speak to a dentist about your options – there may be more than you think.