When people lose their teeth, facial muscles sag, most of them loose confidence because this 'sagging' affects their appearance, and makes their speech and mastication difficult. In order to replace their missing teeth, the dentist fabricates artificial teeth called Dentures. There are two kinds of dentures - Removable Dentures and Fixed Dentures.

Unlike the Fixed Dentures which cannot be removed by the patient without professional help, “Removable Dentures’ can be removed and reinserted by the patient, as and when required without professional help.There are different kinds of Dentures. ‘Conventional removable denture’ is made after all the damaged teeth are extracted and the gums and underlying bone has healed completely. ‘Immediate removable denture’ is inserted soon after the remaining teeth are extracted, and before the wound are totally healed, so that the patient is not without teeth during the healing period,.’ Over-denture’ is meant for patients when some of the teeth and root-stumps can be saved to preserve the jawbone and provide stability and support for the denture. This kind of denture fits over a small number of remaining natural teeth after they have been prepared by your dentist.

When all the teeth are replaced, it is called a complete denture, and when only some of the teeth are replaced it is called a removable partial denture or RPD. Denture can be made from acrylic, fibre-glass and a combination of chrome cobalt cast and acrylic. Although removable dentures are not very comfortable, they are meant for patients who cannot have ‘fixed dentures’ for any number of reasons, such as a lack of required teeth to serve as support for a bridge or financial limitations.

Removable dentures may feel awkward for a few weeks until one gets accustomed to them. The dentures may feel loose and minor irritation, soreness and increased salivation, may be experienced by the patient for a few weeks. Besides maintaining good oral hygiene, a few follow-up appointments with the dentist are generally needed after a denture is inserted so that the 'fit' can be checked, and adjusted when required.

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