Dentures are mostly associated with senior citizens who have lost all or most of their natural teeth. However, any person who has experienced substantial tooth loss can benefit from dentures. Dentures are removable appliances, and can be custom-made to fit different teeth replacement needs.

One consideration before getting dentures is the extent of tooth loss and the condition of the remaining teeth – if any. There are different types of dentures to replace one or more missing teeth, including:

• Full dentures – these are ideal for people who have lost all their teeth and have sufficient gum tissue to support dentures
• Partial dentures – these are recommended for people with one or more missing teeth, but still have some healthy natural teeth

Traditionally, the ideal candidate should have a healthy amount of gum tissue and jawbone to help provide sufficient suction force to keep them in place. Conventional dentures are usually made after your teeth extraction and moderate recovery of the gum tissue. They are ready for placement between 8 and 12 weeks after teeth removal. Because full dentures are not permanently fitted in your mouth, the fit may get loose with time, requiring you to visit the dentist for adjustment.

But there are other options available, including:

• Implant-supported dentures – these allow patients who have lost all their teeth and don’t have enough healthy gum tissue to benefit from full dentures. Implant-supported dentures are anchored by dental implants. This treatment may take longer as you need to wait until the implant site has healed before fitting the dentures, but your denture will fit more comfortably and make it easier for you to talk, eat, and laugh.
• Immediate dentures – these are temporary dentures fitted the same day as the tooth extraction to help maintain proper oral function and aesthetics before the permanent dentures are ready for placement in a few weeks. These dentures are fabricated in advance, before teeth extraction, so they’re ready for placement immediately after the procedure. Their main advantage is that you won’t have to stay without teeth during the recovery period.

If you or a loved one think you might need full dentures, please visit your dentist for proper consultation.