- Tooth loss may be due to decay, to gum disease or trauma (gum disease is the main cause). When teeth are missing, those that are beside and opponents tend to move into the space causing all sorts of imbalances in the dental arches. It also occurs alveolar bone resorption. The alveolar bone is the spongy bone where are located the roots of teeth.
To restore the functions: mastication, aesthetics and phonetics, and minimize the effects mentioned above, dentures are fabricated (dental prostheses).
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| removable partial denture |
- Removable dental prostheses can be partial or total.
Acrylic removable dentures are the cheapest in the market and should be always a temporary solution. Nevertheless are very common due to their low cost.
As the name implies, a removable dental prosthesis is easily removed and inserted in the mouth by user. It is supported and retained in place by remaining teeth and/or mucosa. Can be replacing one, two or all natural teeth. The teeth of a removable denture are made of acrylic or porcelain.
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| complete denture in acrylics |
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| temporary dentures in acrylics |
As stated before, this type of dental prosthesis should be considered only provisional. It is not acceptable to use them for a prolonged period because usually they lead to more tooth loss or alveolar bone resorption. The ideal solution is a denture supported by dental implants.