Dentures

Dentures are removable appliances used to replace missing teeth. Dentures will never be a perfect replacement for your natural teeth and it may take some time to adjust.

Making a denture requires a number of visits to your Westfund dentist. You will need to have impressions taken of your mouth (moulds), try-ins and registration of your bite to make your denture.

When a denture is used to replace a full arch of teeth it is called a complete denture. This type of denture is made from acrylic.

When a denture is used to replace only some of the teeth in an arch it is called a partial denture. These can be made of a variety of materials:

• Cobalt Chrome is the gold standard for partial dentures. Your dentist will make an assessment on whether this type of denture is suitable for you. Out of all the partial dentures, cobalt chrome is the most durable and has the best longevity due to its metal framework. It clips onto the remaining teeth to help with stability and is also less bulky than the acrylic denture.
• Acrylic dentures are an affordable alternative to cobalt chrome. Acrylic dentures come with the advantage of easy addition of extra teeth, should another natural tooth be lost later on. This type of denture is very useful for the immediate replacement of a lost tooth. An immediate acrylic denture can be made and fitted on the same day as a tooth is extracted.
• Valplast is a flexible thermo-plastic material, which is very useful for restoring small gaps in the arch.

All dentures need regular maintenance and sometimes need adjustment and repairs. Dentures should always be removed at night and cleaned to prevent infections of the soft tissues of your mouth.

Your dentist will discuss with you the best hygiene routines for your dentures. Sometimes, denture adhesive can be useful in making them more stable and comfortable to wear.