dentures
Dentures are used to replace lost or missing teeth and are either full dentures, which replace all of the original teeth, or partial, which are used as an alternative to a bridge to fill gaps in your teeth.
There are a range of alternatives to removabale dentures which are fitted to a set of dental implants. These implants hold a special denture firmly in place or are used to attach a permanent, hand crafted set of porcelain teeth which look, feel and act just like real teeth.
A full denture is a removable acrylic base, or plate, which sits over the gums and onto which are crafted a set of acrylic teeth which will be made to look as natural as possible. A partial denture is attached to the teeth either side of the gap.
When fitting a denture, your dentist will take an impression and precise measurements of the mouth over a number of visits. These will be given to a dental technician, who will build bespoke dentures to the correct size and shape.
A trial denture is made, fitted by your dentist, and small adjustments made to ensure you are happy and can bite comfortably. This is then sent back to the technician, where the teeth are permanently fixed, and returned to your dentist for collection.
Alternatives using dental implants must be fitted by a dentist who is trained in this technique. If you are interested to find out more about this procedure, ask your dentist.
Dentures fall within an area of dentistry known as Prosthodontics.