Removable dentures are removable dental appliances that are custom designed to replace a patient's missing teeth. They are "removable" in that they can be placed in and taken out of the mouth. They are specifically designed to deal with each patient's existing dental condition by using that patient's remaining natural teeth and/or soft tissues to support the prosthesis while at the same time replacing the missing teeth. There are many different materials available for removable dentures and it's best to discuss your particular situation and available materials with your dentist. Removable denture designs can vary widely to deal with a wide range of problems. For this discussion we will try to simplify matters by classifying removable dental prosthesis into two basic groups:

1. Full or Complete Dentures -- These replace all of the missing teeth of the upper and/ or lower arch.
2. Partial Dentures -- These replace one or more - but not all of the remaining teeth.

Indications for Complete Dentures

If many of your teeth are loose or painful, it may be too late to save them.  In many cases loose or painful teeth may be caused by advanced periodontal disease.  Periodontal disease also causes bone loss, and if it’s not caught in time, your teeth may have to be removed because there is too little support for them.

Removing your teeth and replacing them with a complete denture may be the best way to eliminate the infection caused by periodontal disease and restore the health of your mouth.                                                       

Indications for Partial Dentures