At Dr. Rice Area Dental, we use full dentures when all the teeth are missing, and partial dentures to fill in the gaps where some permanent teeth have been removed. Dentures are usually made of acrylic resin or porcelain and metal alloys. They are designed and fabricated to imitate your natural teeth closely and may even improve your smile! Thanks to advancements in dentistry, there are many options to choose from if you are missing some or all of your natural teeth. Your unique demands and preferences will determine the ideal choice for you.

How Do Dentures Work?

The artificial teeth are attached to a plastic base resembling gum tissue and provide support for the appliance for an entire arch, full upper denture, or complete maxillary denture. The base of the upper denture covers the palate, while the lower complete denture is shaped like a horseshoe to accommodate the tongue. The upper and lower dentures are custom-made in a dental laboratory based on impressions taken of the patient’s teeth and gums. At-home brushing with a denture brush followed by soaking the prostheses overnight in a cleansing solution is recommended to clean them thoroughly. Patients should visit the dentist regularly to ensure their dentures fit correctly and there are no signs of infection or oral tissue changes. 

Partial Dentures

In general, a partial denture is a removable appliance that is used to replace one or more missing teeth. A partial denture usually consists of replacement teeth attached to a gum-colored base and connected by a metal framework. They are similar to a bridge in that they both use the surrounding natural teeth as support structures to restore lost teeth. However, unlike a bridge, a partial denture is not permanently affixed to the mouth; it is removable and can be taken out anytime. Also, a partial denture only restores some missing teeth, unlike full dentures that replace whole arches of teeth.

When Would I Need a Partial Denture?

A partial can be used when a patient has several missing teeth but still have enough healthy teeth that can be used to support the partial. This form of dentistry can also be used if a patient has a complete set of healthy teeth but needs to remove one or a few due to decay or disease. Removing such teeth can cause the remaining teeth to shift, which can complicate your oral health further. Replacing those missing teeth with a partial denture can prevent your remaining teeth from shifting out of place.

A denture is a removable appliance that replaces some or all your natural teeth. To learn more about dentures, contact Dr. Rice Area Dental at 3712 Canyon Lake Dr., Rapid City, SD 57702, or call (605) 342-3939.