If you are missing one or more teeth, dentures can help restore your smile, your ability to chew and speak, and even your confidence. At South Reno Dental, we specialize in both complete and partial dentures. Regardless of which type of denture you need, your restoration will be custom-fit for effective, comfortable, and long-lasting results!
A complete denture is a removable appliance that restores a full-arch of missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. The appliance generally consists of prosthetic teeth set in a flesh-colored acrylic base. If the denture is for the upper jaw, the base typically extends to the palate, or roof of the mouth, to provide additional support. Dentures fabricated for the lower jaw are usually shaped like a horseshoe to accommodate the tongue.
There are two types of complete dentures: conventional and immediate. Most patients in need of a complete denture usually have a few remaining teeth that require extraction. During the brief healing period following the extractions, the gum tissues may shrink or change shape. For this reason, a conventional denture is fabricated after the teeth have been removed, and the gum tissues have fully healed. This ensures a proper fit.
However, this also means that patients are without teeth during the healing period. To prevent this problem, we may recommend an immediate denture. As the name suggests, we place an immediate denture directly following your extractions. The appliance is made in advance and usually considered a temporary measure.
