Complete & Partial Dentures

Dentures (also known as false teeth) are prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth, and are supported by the surrounding soft and hard tissues of the oral cavity. Conventional dentures are removable (removable partial denture or complete denture).

However, there are many denture designs, some which rely on bonding or clasping onto teeth or dental implants (fixed prosthodontics).

There are two main categories of dentures, the distinction being whether they are used to replace missing teeth on the mandibular arch or on the maxillary arch.

A removable partial denture or bridge usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is sometimes connected by a metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth.

Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. A fixed bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the space and attaching artificial teeth to them.

This "bridge" is then cemented into place. Not only does a partial denture fill in the spaces created by missing teeth, but it also prevents other teeth from changing position.

A precision partial denture is removable and has internal attachments rather than clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns.