Dentures

Complete dentures replace all of the natural teeth in the upper and lower jaw, or sitting on the soft (gum) tissue of the mouth that covers the bone ridge. There are several different procedures to make sure your denture fits the shape of the mouth, and provide the necessary support for your face. The shape of the complete denture and position of the teeth will restore good speech and fill out the appearance of your face and profile.

There are two main types of complete dentures. They are conventional and immediate dentures. Conventional dentures are made and inserted after the remaining teeth have been extracted and the tissues have healed, which can take up to six months. Immediate dentures are inserted right away after the removal of the remaining teeth. Measurements of your jaw will have already been taken at a prior appointment.

The obvious advantage to immediate dentures is that you don't ever have to be without teeth. However, since healing may affect the fit of immediate dentures, they will require a new set of complete dentures to be made six months after the last extraction appointment. After six months, the bone has had time to heal and a new set of complete dentures can be fabricated. Making two sets of dentures is beneficial for several reasons. You, the patient find our what you like and do not like about the esthetics and function of the dentures. These concerns can be addressed only while making the second set of complete dentures. Also you would have a second set in the unforeseen event of the one set breaking.