Complete Dentures

A denture, or a complete denture as it is often called, is a dental device or appliance that is inserted and removed by the patient, replaces natural teeth and provides support for the cheeks and lips. Most dentures are made after all teeth have been extracted and the tissues (gums) have completely healed.

An immediate denture is fabricated prior to extracting the teeth, the denture is inserted during the visit for extraction of the teeth, and the tissues are allowed to heal under the denture in the followings days or weeks. An upper denture covers the palate (roof of the mouth) while the lower denture is shaped like a horseshoe to leave room for the tongue. The base of the denture is made of acrylic in a color and shape to simulate the gums around natural teeth. The teeth are made of acrylic, porcelain or a combination of both. Dentures over a normal course of time will wear and need to be replaced or relined for proper fit and function. This is due to changes as the bone and gums recede or shrink due to the extraction of the teeth. Regular dentist examinations are still important for the denture wearer so that the oral tissues can be checked for disease or change.

Complete Dentures (see also Overdentures and Implant-supported Dentures)

Dentures are provided to patients who by disease, trauma or choice have lost all natural teeth in one or both arches.  A complete denture replaces all the teeth within the arch but unfortunately relies solely on remaining bone and soft tissue (gums) for support and retention.  All too often there is insufficient ridge structure for adequate support and proper function of the denture.  Dr. Livaditis, as a specialist in prosthodontics, is highly qualified to provide you with quality dentures. However, he encourages patients to avoid the complete denture option by:

Preserving healthy and reliable natural teeth;

Restoring compromised teeth to serve as support for a removable partial denture or fixed bridge;

Utilizing compromised teeth as supports under the denture (see Overdentures) and to preserve the underlying bone;

Incorporating implants to provide a secure and highly functional denture (see Implant-supported Dentures).

Dr. Livaditis will assess your dental condition and provide you with a comprehensive review of your treatment options.

Overdentures

Overdentures appear similar to conventional complete dentures when both are in position in the mouth. They are substantially more comfortable and secure due to the support providing by the remaining teeth. Overdentures vary widely in degree of support or retention depending on the number of remaining teeth, location of the remaining teeth, and manner the remaining teeth are utilized to secure the denture.

When the few remaining teeth have good bone support, endodontic therapy (root canal treatment) can be completed and precision attachments can be incorporated into the roots of the teeth. These attachments provide a means for ‘clipping’ or attaching the denture to the teeth.The remaining roots provide a solid foundation and valuable retention for the denture.

When the remaining teeth are compromised by bone loss (periodontal disease) so that thery are unacceptable for support of a fixed bridge or removable partial denture, they may still prove valuable for support of a denture. Once the remaining teeth are reduced to the level of the gums, the forces from chewing are more favorably distributed to the teeth and the remaining roots can provide a more solid foundation than soft tissue (gums) alone.

Dr. Livaditis advocates retention of teeth as overdenture abutments, teeth that would otherwise be extracted, for several reasons:

(a)  Overdenture abutments provide more solid support to the denture and substantially reduce pressure areas and sore spots associated with new dentures;

(b)  Overdenture abutments help preserve the ridge (bone of the jaws) and enable a more retentive denture.  (The ridge shrinks substantially in size and form following extraction of teeth.  In the absence of teeth, the bone continues to deteriorate, although at a lower rate, in the subsequent years. Overdenture abutments preserve the form of the ridge for improved denture retention/support.);

(c)  Overdenture abutments maintain optimal ridge form (bone) at the site of the teeth for future implant insertion.  (Often patients choose the denture or overdenture option because of limited funds.)  By preserving the ridge form, better options (such as implants) are available in the future.

If you are considering or destined to have a complete denture, Dr. Livaditis will review the options available to you and help you develop a plan to provide the optimal comfort, function and appearance both for the transitional phase and for the long-term solution.