Willowdale Dental Associates offers a comprehensive range of options to replace missing teeth. One of the most common choices for dental replacement is dentures.

A denture is a removable replacement for missing teeth and the tissues that surround them. There are two main types of dentures. These are complete and partial dentures. When all of the teeth are missing, a patient will need complete dentures, while patients who still have natural teeth remaining can opt for partial dentures.

Complete dentures

There are two options for complete dentures. They can be either "conventional" or "immediate." Conventional dentures are created after the teeth have been removed and the gum tissue has begun to heal. After the natural tooth has been removed, it takes about eight to 12 weeks for the gum to heal to a level where it’s ready for the conventional denture to be positioned.

Unlike conventional dentures, immediate dentures are made ahead of time, so they are ready for positioning as soon as the natural teeth are removed. Because of this, the patient will not have to go through life without teeth while their gums are healing. However, over time your bones and gums can change, and this is especially true during the period when the gums are healing from a tooth extraction. Because of this, immediate dentures will need more adjustments than conventional dentures. Immediate dentures are usually considered to be a temporary option to be worn while the gum heals, and your conventional dentures can be made.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures, or bridges, usually include replacement teeth that are attached to a plastic base that is specifically chosen to match the colour of your gums. This is a great option to replace one or more teeth. It works by placing crowns on the teeth adjacent to the space where the missing teeth once were. This bridge, or partial, is then cemented into that space. Partial dentures do more than just improve your aesthetics by replacing your missing teeth, they also hold the remaining teeth in place to prevent more problems from developing over time.

If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your options, call the team at Willowdale Dental Associates today. We’ll set up a time to meet with your, assess your situation, and create a custom treatment plan to get you back to smiling with confidence.