Types of Dentures: Benefits, Cost, and Materials

Dentures are prostheticdental devices that can effectively replace missing teeth. With a conventional denture device, each false tooth is affixed on its gum-colored base. This base is supported by the soft and hard tissues of your gums and their surrounding regions.

To create the dentures, our dentist will first take impressions of your teeth. The impressions will be sent to the laboratory as a basis for molding your custom set of dentures.

Materials and Their Advantages

• Acrylic Resin

Acrylic resin dentures have a pleasant aesthetic. They are perfect for giving you that “bright” smile, as the resin material for the false teeth has a clean and pristine appearance. It is ideal for making white dental prosthetics.

Once in their solid form, acrylic resin devices are durable and sturdy. They are half as dense as glass. However, they can last for years to come—even decades, for patients who maintain them well.

• Porcelain

Similar to acrylic teeth, porcelain teeth have a very natural appearance. They are also resilient against wear-and-tear, which means that they are meant for long-term use. Although porcelain is a dense and weighty material, these features are what allow ease of maintenance. Their hard exterior can be easily brushed.

• Composite Resin

Composite resin is a material widely used in many dental repair and replacement procedures. The resin for each prosthetic set of teeth can be formed so that they match your natural ones.

Moreover, composite resin dental hardware hardens quickly. It is for this reason that many opt for composite resin dental fixtures. Patients do not need to wait too long before their denture devices are ready for fitting.

• Acrylic

Acrylic, being a category of industrial plastic, can adapt to any change that may occur in your mouth. This implies that they can be utilized for an extended period due to their versatility.

They are also among the more lightweight teeth replacement devices. You will not go through too much of an adjustment period once you are fitted with acrylic false teeth.

6 Types of Dentures

• Traditional

Traditional or complete dentures completelyreplace a patient’s teeth. They require that there are no natural teeth sitting on top of the target gum line as the prosthetic bridge is anchored on the gum itself. They hold well and do not fall off, especially when they are fitted to match the exact measurements of your gums.

Our dentist in Westwood, MA, can also recommend denture adhesives to keep them fastened in place. Denture adhesive is removable and can be easily brushed and cleaned off.

• Partials

Partial dentures do not replace all of your teeth. Instead, they are meant for replacing a certain number of missing or decayed teeth on either your upper or lower gumlines. If you still have real teeth that are healthy and strong, our Westwood dentist may advise you to go for partials instead of complete dentures.

Your remaining teeth would be utilized as anchors for the partials. Partial dentures often have metal clasps to hook them in place. The hooks themselves may be made out of the same gum-colored material as the base.

• Immediate

Immediate dentures are an option for those who urgently need their tooth gaps filled (i.e., attending a function, speaking at a corporate event, etc.). They are for temporary use and will last only for as long as 2 to 3 months. Typically, immediate dentures are a temporary fix until your actual set of prosthetics (i.e., complete, partial, etc.) are ready for fitting.

Immediate dentures are not for everybody. Our dentist can inform you if you qualify for immediate dentures.

• Implant-Supported

Implant-supported dentures are drilled into the bone. If tooth decay has eaten away at teeth and can no longer be restored, this is another option you can choose. It provides sturdiness and resilience, unlike other types of dental replacement measures.

It takes the longest to complete because gums need time to heal. The operation can proceed only after each wound has completely healed. If you prefer a permanent dental replacement solution, implanted-supported dentures are a great choice.

For more information about dentures or to schedule a consultation with our dentist, contact Westwood Dental Group.