Dentures can be made entirely from acrylic filling the space left by several missing teeth and/or preventing the remaining teeth from moving out of position).
Full dentures can be made entirely from acrylic with teeth made from acrylic or porcelain. In partial dentures the base is made of either acrylic or acrylic bonded with a metal (cobalt-chrome) framework to provide extra strength and metal clasps are used to gain traction with teeth to keep the partial denture firm in place.
The downside is that they will need more adjustments and require a reline to the fitting surface as when your gums heal the shape of the remaining gums change. Relining is when the base of your denture needs to be re-shaped or replaced entirely so it fits comfortably and remains secure.
This happens after wearing dentures for many years or when a tooth is lost and added to a partial denture. Relining often requires the denture to be sent to a laboratory so the relining material can be applied, taking several days.
Partial denture plates
A partial denture replaces some of your teeth and is held in place by metal clasps around your remaining teeth.
Partial dentures require existing teeth to anchor to so the more teeth you have the more secure it will be. They are very effective if you want to replace a few teeth at minimal cost.
Valplast is another material that is used in partial dentures when patients don’t want to use metal clasps, especially in the front part of the mouth. This is a springy material and engages into undercuts to maintain its hold.
Chrome Partial Denture
Vaplast unilateral one tooth denture (no clasps)
Acrylic Partial Denture (Metal Clasps)
Full denture plates
A full denture rests on your gums and replaces all your teeth on your upper (top) or lower (bottom) jaw, or both. Full dentures generally work well in the upper jaw but, when used in the lower jaw, results vary depending on the amount of jaw bone left.
Sometimes implants can be placed to allow the lower denture to clip on and provide a firm anchor for your lower denture to attach to allowing you to eat with ease.
Implant Supported Dentures
An implant-retained denture replaces one or more of your teeth or the whole arch. The full or partial denture is attached to the implants in the jaw with clips built into the denture that hook on/off with finger pressure.
