Partial and Full Denture

If you are considering a partial or full denture you likely are already missing some teeth and may have others that are not in great shape. Remember, if we can, we would always prefer to save teeth that can be saved. Nothing that we make you will likely ever be as good as your natural teeth. However, many teeth are beyond the point of trying to save them and that is why we have both partial and full dentures.

A partial denture is a removable prosthesis that snaps down on top of some of your remaining good teeth. It is obviously meant for someone that still has some good, solid teeth. These solid teeth will be the anchor for the new partial and it will be important that you take care of these teeth in the future so that your partial can still attach to them. Partial dentures are traditionally made of a chromium cobalt metal base framework with acrylic teeth paced on top. Partials are excellent for both upper and lower arches.

A full denture is a removable prosthesis for individuals with no remaining teeth on an entire arch, upper or lower jaw. If you have no remaining teeth or not enough remaining solid teeth for a partial then a full denture may be your best option. A full denture replaces all of you teeth that have been lost and all of the soft tissue and bone that gets resorbed when you lose teeth. A full denture is made from an acrylic base and has acrylic teeth. Upper jaw full dentures are a fine way to replace missing teeth. Lower jaw full dentures, on the other hand, often have significant problems and people with lower ones typically have trouble adjusting to them without some type of extra support. We do not recommend a lower denture without some type of implants placed to help stabilize it.