Dentures are a removable prostheses that offer a treatment option for replacing missing teeth in the arch. As the name implies, a partial denture is utilized to replace a few teeth and complements the existing teeth in your mouth.  A full denture, on the other hand, replaces a full arch of missing natural teeth and provides support for the cheeks and lips.
A common problem amongst the denture wearing population is extensive bone loss, especially in the lower jaw, after many years of denture wearing. We have a very high success rate in making dentures for these patients. We also have some young denture wearers in our practice. Young adults will lose less bone in the future if their dentures are well constructed and maintained.

Conventional Denture -- is made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have healed.
Upper Denture -- has gum colored acrylic covering the roof of the mouth (palate)

Lower Denture --shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue
Immediate Denture -- is fabricated and inserted immediately after the teeth are extracted and the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture. With this option we help patients make the transition from natural teeth to dentures when their remaining natural teeth are hopeless. Immediate dentures ensure that our patients never have to go without teeth.
Overdenture -- fits over dental implants and is retained by attaching to these implants.  This allows for excellent “snap in” retention and stability. The implants also provide the benefit of preserving bone.
Conventional Removable Partial Denture -- consists of teeth and gum-work constructed on a metal or acrylic framework. It has clasps that anchor it around several teeth to provide retention and support.
A precision attachment retained removable partial denture -- consists of teeth and gum-work on a metal frame. It is retained in the mouth with crowns or the adjacent natural teeth which have built-in snap attachments. This eliminates the need for visible claps around natural teeth as the snap attachments are hidden under the partial denture.

Denture Reline
In certain cases, an ill-fitting existing denture may not need to be remade.  In these cases, our dentists utilize a treatment called a reline in order to ensure a better fit. A denture reline is simply a refitting of the underside of the denture to the gum and bone which support it. The gum and bone change slowly over time, causing the denture to become looser and less stable than when first placed. Most patients need a denture reline every 2-5 years. A denture reline will often be necessary after weight loss or illness.

Denture Maintenance
Dentures will wear out over time and need to be replaced or relined in order to keep the jaw alignment normal. The alignment will slowly change as the bone and gum tissue supporting the denture are modified over time. Regular dental examinations are still important for denture wearing individuals. We provide these annual recall examinations which include a thorough oral cancer screening examination.  At these recall appoints the oral tissues can be examined to ensure optimal health and the dentures can checked to see if any modifications are needed. These modifications include bite and fit adjustments.  We also are able to thoroughly clean and disinfect your dentures in our professional grade ultrasonic cleaner.

While dentures provide one option, there are many treatment options available for tooth replacement.  At Burns Family Dentistry, we would love to help you navigate these different options and arrive at the best treatment choice for you!