Which Dentures Are Right For You: 8 Types of Dentures

There are many benefits to getting dentures. If you’re missing any or all of your teeth, dentures can help to support your face in place of your old teeth. They also enable you to chew and speak as you used to. But there are many different types of dentures. What are the available denture options and which one is right for you?

What Are the Different Types of Dentures?

There are different dentures for different purposes. For example, immediate dentures are given to patients during their dental appointment and are worn while they’re waiting for their own set of dentures to be completed. These will be replaced by a set of dentures customized to better fit your mouth. People who wear dentures may end up wearing multiple different kinds of dentures in their lifetimes.

Dentures can come as:

• Immediate dentures
• Partial dentures
• Removable partial dentures
• Fixed bridge partial dentures
• Complete dentures
• Dental implants
• Snap-in dentures
• Overdentures
• Economy dentures
• Custom dentures

Immediate Dentures

Immediate dentures are the complete dentures that you receive from the dentist for immediate wear at the same appointment the teeth they’re replacing are removed. Immediate dentures are typically temporary ones that you’ll wear until your new dentures are made, no matter what kind of dentures they are.

Partial Dentures

If you are only replacing some of your teeth while keeping some natural teeth, then you’ll need partial dentures. There are two types of partial dentures: removable and fixed. Removable partial dentures have clasps built-in that clip onto the teeth nearby. A fixed bridge partial denture is connected more permanently to the teeth on either side of the dentures and cannot be taken out except by your dentist.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures replace all of your teeth on both the top and bottom of your mouth. This type of denture will rest on your gums because there won’t be any natural teeth for them to anchor to. These complete dentures will replace immediate dentures usually two or three months after receiving the immediate dentures. Complete dentures are removable and should be both removed and cleaned every night.

Dental Implants

A dental implant is a metal post that your dentist places into your jawbone. Over time, the post will become a part of your jaw. This implant is used to support a false tooth, a set of fixed bridge partial dentures, or a full set of dentures for either the upper or lower jaw.

Snap-in Dentures

Snap-in dentures are removable. Only partial dentures can be snap-in because they require healthy, natural teeth to anchor the removable dentures. This type of denture typically needs to be removed and cleaned at least once a day, usually at night.

Overdentures

An over denture is a denture that sits on the gum and is affixed in the mouth using dental adhesives. Overdentures are removable and need to be cleaned nightly. They can go on either the upper or lower jaw, or both. Complete dentures can be overdentures.

Economy Dentures

Economy dentures are dentures that are generic dentures. They’re not customized to your mouth and may therefore be a bit uncomfortable. They also usually look like dentures instead of natural teeth. However, they can be a good option for someone looking for cost-effective dentures.

Custom Dentures

Custom dentures may be more expensive than economy dentures, but they are worth the extra expense for many. Custom dentures typically look more like natural teeth and they’re also designed to fit your mouth well so that they’re much more comfortable.

Which Dentures Are Right for Me?

Dentures differ from each other in two major ways: purpose and how they’re affixed in your mouth. Which type of dentures you need will depend on how many teeth you’re replacing and where they’re located. How the dentures attach to your mouth is more a matter of choice.

Some dentures are designed to be more permanently affixed to your mouth and can only be removed by a dentist. Others are designed to be removable. Removable dentures are the kind that you take out yourself and clean at home. Talk to your dentist about which kind they recommend for you.

Something else you’ll have to think about is whether you’d prefer to save money and get economy dentures or if you’d like to have dentures custom fitted for your mouth. Dentures that are custom for you will look more like natural teeth and be more comfortable, which can benefit your oral health.

For informational purposes only.