A denture may be a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. Two sorts of dentures are available -- complete and partial dentures. Complete dentures are used when all the teeth are missing, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures are often either "conventional" or "immediate." Made after the teeth are removed and therefore the gum tissue has begun to heal, a standard denture is prepared for placement within the mouth about eight to 12 weeks after the teeth are removed.

Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made beforehand and may be positioned as soon because the teeth are removed. As a result, the wearer doesn't need to be without teeth during the healing period. However, bones and gums shrink over time, especially during the healing period following tooth removal. Therefore an obstacle of immediate dentures compared with conventional dentures is that they require more adjustments to suit properly during the healing process and usually should only be considered a short lived solution until conventional dentures are often made.

Partial Dentures

A removable denture or bridge usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is usually connected by metal framework that holds the denture in situ within the mouth. Partial dentures are used when one or more natural teeth remain within the upper or mandible . a hard and fast bridge replaces one or more teeth by placing crowns on the teeth on either side of the space and attaching artificial teeth to them.

This "bridge" is then cemented into place. Not only does a denture fill within the spaces created by missing teeth, it prevents other teeth from changing position. A precision denture is removable and has internal attachments instead of clasps that attach to the adjacent crowns. this is often a more natural-looking appliance.