Dentures are the original false teeth. Partial dentures fill in the gaps where several teeth are missing, while complete dentures replace an entire set of teeth.
The fit of dentures is very important. They should fit well enough that they do not require the regular use of an adhesive, but resent studies have shown that even if you think you don’t need adhesive due to a tight fit, you should use some in order to minimize micro movements of the denture that can cause tissue (gum) irritation. With complete dentures, the top palette dentures often sit better in the mouth due to the suction that is created by the anatomy of the soft palate. Bottom dentures rarely have great suction, but we will ensure that you get the best fit possible. Partial dentures typically have a much better fit, in all locations of the mouth, than complete dentures, as it anchors onto existing teeth firmly.
Unfortunately, dentures do not stop the bone loss that comes with missing teeth—in fact, if you haven’t had teeth for many years, the bone loss is so great that a great fit is very difficult. Because bone continues to resorb (deteriorate), you may need to be refitted for a new set of dentures every five to seven years.
If you already have dentures that do not fit as well as they used to fit, or that have any other problems, we can provide you with options to achieving a more comfortable and functional fit.