Advancement in medicine has led to breakthroughs in various medical fields like surgery, optometry, physiology, and dentistry. Dentistry’s primary focus is on maintaining balanced oral hygiene and is closely associated with the healthy teeth .
One of the breakthroughs in dentistry as related to oral management is the development of dentures. Dentures, commonly referred to as dental plate or false teeth, are replaceable dental appliances used to replace gap teeth, imbalanced teeth, and dislocated teeth. A denture is a remedy in restoring and correcting any form of teeth whitening deficiency.
Types of dentures
- Partial dentures
- Full or complete dentures
Partial Dentures
A partial denture is mainly used for patients who lost one or some of their natural teeth while remaining intact in a health condition. Partial dentures are a removable appliance that fits perfectly into the dislocated teeth sockets because they support oral tissues. In contrast, the remaining natural teeth usually serve as abutments or anchors.
Components of partial dentures
- Denture base
The denture base is that part that serves as overlaying to the edentulous area.
- Major connectors
The component is saddled with connecting one end of the prosthesis to the other end of the prosthesis.
- Direct retainers
Direct retainers are the components of partial dentures that hold each denture in a firm position, ensuring each of the dentures remains fixated to their rightful places.
- Artificial teeth
It is the replacement of the natural teeth that are usually attached to the denture base.
Full or complete dentures
Unlike partial dentures, a full or complete denture is mainly used for patients who have lost their natural teeth. The first procedure involves restoring the gum tissue into a healthy condition, which usually requires 8 to 12 weeks to implant dentures.