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Complete Dentures

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When a person has had all of their teeth removed we must make complete dentures for the person to wear. Dentures are an acceptable solution, but no match for our real teeth! Hence we always try to save natural teeth. When the teeth are removed we are left with a ridge of bone on the upper and lower parts of our mouth,that we can use to put false teeth on.The lower denture always takes a little more work for most patients to get used to for two reasons:lack of height of bone and prescence of the tongue. The tongue increases in size in an edentulous mouth and it resists any new encumberence to its unchallenged domain. In the upper ridge however there are no such interferences .

Upper CD	Lower CD

Upper & Lower CDs

Advantages

• long term experience over the years
• relative low cost
• predictable results
• tolerated well by most people
• restores missing teeth and lost ridge or gums
• function and appearance is restored
• aesthetically good where lip and cheek support is inadequate
• can be fabricated fairly quickly

Disadvantages

• cause pressure that results in underlying bone resorption and soreness
• removability- not fixed like natural teeth
• bulk
• instability because it is removable and underlying progressive bone resorption
• looseness as it can only sit atop the gums- especially lowers
• only low chewing or biting forces can be produced
• speech problems due to a large appliance in your mouth and it may move
• taste problems
• longevity- the need to reline to fit or wearing out 
• covering the roof of the mouth which can result in gagging problems
• risk of breakage

REMOVABLE PARTIAL DENTURES

An important step in maintaining a healthy smile is to replace missing teeth. When teeth are missing, the remaining ones can change position, drifting into the surrounding space. Teeth that are out of position can damage tissues in the mouth. In addition, it may be difficult to clean thoroughly between crooked teeth. As a result, you run the risk of tooth decay and periodontal (gum) disease, which can lead to the loss of additional teeth. In situations where only some teeth are missing we can also use a Removable Partial Denture.

A removable partial denture fills in the space created by missing teeth and fills out your smile.It is usually used when the space without teeth is too large for a bridge,or there are no teeth on either side of the gap or for economic reasons.The partial denture locks into place with its metal clasps.A denture helps you to properly chew food, a difficult task when you are missing teeth. In addition, a denture may improve speech and prevent a sagging face by providing support for lips and cheeks. There are two types of these:ones made fully of plastic(acrylic) or ones having a metal framework for rigidity and the teeth are the same kind used in full dentures.The latter ones are called CAST partial dentures and are much better and expensive.

These particular partials replace some upper teeth. The metal you see will fit across part of the palate.

A Cast PD

     

CPD on model

     

Rem partial denture

 

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