What are dentures?

Technically, a denture is prosthetic device that replaces missing teeth. In dentistry, they fall into two broad categories: removable and fixed. Most people, when thinking about dentures, think about removable dentures. These can also be sub-divided into full dentures, which replace the teeth when all of them are missing in an arch, or partial dentures, which replace teeth when some of them are missing. "Fixed dentures " are more commonly known as bridges.

What types of cosmetic dentures are available?

Valplast (trade name) is one type of denture that uses tissue-colored clasps to secure the denture to a patient's teeth. Because there is no metal in the denture whatsoever, it generally blends in very nicely. It is also made of a hypo-allergenic material, which is a benefit to many individuals who are sensitive to metals. Another method of hiding clasps is to make them tooth-colored. Where a metal partial is desired (possibly for increased strength), these can be added in visible areas to improve the denture's appearance. Sometimes metal partial dentures will employ the use of precision attachments to hold the denture. These take many different forms, but are often fabricated in combination with crowns. The crown typically acts as the retentive mechanism and hides the attachment which is built into the partial denture. An entirely new form of cosmetic denture is the SnapOn Smile (trade mark). A highly cosmetic solution, these use existing teeth for retention and have the advantage being able to correct many cosmetic problems, quickly and affordably. The procedure is also considered painless and patients report the device is quite comfortable. The principal disadvantage is that it has a life expectancy of three to five years.

Who should consider cosmetic dentures?

Anyone who would prefer that their dentures appear natural. Ideally, all dentures should take the patient's appearance into consideration. To this degree, I attempt to create the most "cosmetic " denture for each patient. That having been said, there are certain features which can be built into removable dentures that assist with making them more aesthetically pleasing. Usually, it is fairly simple to make a FULL denture that looks good. The greater concern that many patients have is: what will their denture look like when they only have some of their teeth remaining? Traditional partial dentures often contained metal clasps which were generally obvious when a person spoke or smiled. This immediately signaled to the observer that the wearer had false teeth. Today, we have many tools and techniques available to us that can make dentures virtually "invisible " while maintaining both comfort and good function.