Commonly called dentures, removable prosthetics can be an effective and economic way of restoring aesthetics and function after losing multiple teeth. The decision between a fixed solution or a removable solution depends on many factors such as bone levels, health of surrounding teeth, and financing. Your dentist will take a set of impressions to create a model which is used to create custom fit dentures specific to your mouth. There are different types of dentures for different situations.
A partial denture is used in a situation where only some of the natural teeth are missing. These situations can include single tooth “flipper style” denture that would replace a congenitally missing tooth or one lost in an accident (commonly seen with hockey players), or they can replace multiple teeth that have been lost due to a variety of reasons. Partial dentures utilize a cast metal framework for strength and the remaining natural teeth to help it stay in place. They are removed and cleaned at nighttime, and can provide an aesthetic and economic option for replacing the function lost by multiple missing teeth.
Complete dentures are used when all the natural teeth are missing. These dentures rely on the contour of your bone and soft tissues to create a suction effect to hold the dentures in place. Like partial dentures, complete dentures are removed and cleaned at nighttime. Complete dentures can also be fit to utilize implants to help with stability and function.