Dentures
Overview.
Sometimes, there is no better solution for a patient than dentures. Even though this is a life changing procedure, there are many options available to make the transition as easy as possible. There are two main types of dentures: conventional (complete) and immediate. This flow chart is provided so that you can find the options that are available to you with your current dental status.
Convention Dentures.
Complete dentures are dentures that are used in many situations. If the patient currently has no teeth then complete dentures is the type of denture that would be treatment planned. Other situations where complete dentures would be treatment planned would be if the patient already is in a denture and needs a replacement. The last situation where a complete denture is an option is if the patient does have teeth present. In this case, the teeth would be removed and the tissue would be given time to heal, but this takes time-typically the patient would go a few months without the denture. This route is not for everyone. The purpose of waiting the few months is so that the tissue can heal after the extractions. Therefore, this waiting period is only necessary for those who have existing teeth.
.
Old
New
Old Denture with Relaxed Face
"No teeth are seen."
New Denture with Relaxed Face
"Teeth are seen, lips more supported."
Old Denture with Smile
"Teeth are flat and yellow."
New Denture with Smile
"Teeth are bright and natural."
Old Dentures out of Mouth
"The dentures are old and worn."
New Dentures out of Mouth
"Fresh and Bright"
Side by Side Comparison
Immediate Dentures.
An immediate denture is another option for those who do have teeth present. In this situation, the denture is placed the same day as the extractions. The benefit to this option is there is no waiting period for the tissue to heal, but there is a drawback to this option. Because the denture is placed immediately the tissue will continue to shrink and the dentures will be eventually become loose. Therefore, a denture reline is necessary.
Dentures Relines.
The purpose of a denture reline is to reline the denture with acrylic to provide a tighter fit. A denture reline is performed in two situations. First, if the denture was an immediate denture and it is starting to become loose. A reline is typically necessary six months to a year after the extractions. A reline is also necessary if the dentures are simply wearing out. A reline is typically necessary every four to five years