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False Teeth Options

Denture technology has progressed considerably from when Queen Elizabeth I stuffed cloth between the gaps in her teeth in the 18th century. Those with missing teeth use false teeth as a way to improve their appearances and to make eating easier. False teeth fit for maxillary or mandibular jaws, and there are also cosmetic options to fix chips and gaps.

  1. Fixed Dentures

    • Whether you're missing one tooth or many teeth, fixed partial dentures are an option with two different types, fixed and removable. Fixed partial dentures are called dental implant bridges; they permanently attach to the jaw with a dental crown. Dental implants are also fixed; they allow the false teeth to attach firmly under the gum tissue. Full dentures are also available for those who need to replace all of the teeth on the lower or upper jaw.

    Removable Dentures

    • The second type of partial dentures are removable dentures. A removable denture uses a dental bridge that fills the gap between two healthy teeth and uses replacement false teeth that attach to a rigid base colored to appear like gums. Removable dentures connect by a metal frame that keeps them in place inside the wearer's mouth. These can be partial or full depending on the wearer's needs.

    Dental Adhesives

    • Dentures connect with dental adhesives, also called dental cements. Brands such as Polydent, Sea Bond or PoliGrip are all dental adhesives that work with denture users to adhere dentures together to the gum, making false teeth less likely to become loose. However, there are risks with dental adhesives, such as inflammation and bone resorption.

    Veneers

    • Veneers are porcelain laminates that cover the fronts of teeth, improving a person's smile. The veneer shells bond to the teeth to change color, shape, size or length. For teeth that are discolored, worn down, chipped or broken, misaligned, badly shaped or gapped, veneers are an option for cosmetic correction. Dentists remove about 0.5mm of enamel from each tooth's surface, then make an impression of the teeth to make the veneer cast. The veneers then permanently cement to your teeth to match exact fit. Many people opt for veneers that are whiter than the real teeth were.

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