Dentures

Dentures

Everything you ever wanted to know about dentures will be coming in the next few posts, part of our ongoing series postings. Today, an introduction to dentures and the most common - the partial denture. In the next post, overdentures will be discussed - followed by information about caring for your dentures and how they impact your oral care routine. As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact us at any time.

Conventional Partial Dentures

Removable appliances

When many teeth in your upper or lower arch are missing, a partial denture is a good treatment for replacing them. Conventional partial are removable appliances that are held in place by clasps that fir around some of the remaining teeth. With proper home care and regular adjustments and relines, your partial denture can provide a functional bite and a natural-looking smile.

Placing a partial denture

The process of making a partial denture varies in each case, and it usually involves a series of appointments. The first step is to shape the supporting teeth. Next, we take impressions of your mouth, including the prepared teeth. An accurate model of your mouth is made from these impressions, and the lab uses this model to create the denture framework. In some cases, a wax rim is mounted on the framework for you to try in. This helps confirm the correct relationship between the upper and lower teeth. After the try in, the lab creates a wax-up, which is a wax replica of the final denture. Depending on the circumstances, we may have you try in the wax up, and we note any changes to the fit and to the color shape and placement of the teeth. We send the wax-up back to the lab, and they process it to create the final partial denture. When the partial is ready, you try it in, and we make any necessary adjustments here in the office.