There are typically three different types of dentures for patients, and the one they need depends on what their individual issues or concerns are. Your dentist will recommend the right set for you, prepare the oral cavity for the placement of the dentures, fit and mould your ideal set, and help provide long-term care to extend the lifetime of the dentures.
The first type of denture is the conventional denture, which is a fully removable piece. As the most popular and common denture type, it requires the dentist to remove any remaining teeth so the dentures can fit. This requires time for the gums to heal from the removal.
The second type of denture is the immediate denture, which is also a fully removable piece. It is similar to the conventional denture in that a patient’s teeth must be removed to make room for the dentures. However, they are often only designed to last for two to four months and are used while the gums heal before a permanent denture set is placed.
The last type of denture is an overdenture. With an overdenture, a patient might have some good, remaining teeth, though they are small in number. The dentist designs the overdenture to fit in place around the real teeth, to preserve as much integrity of the jaw as possible.