Removable partial dentures are for patients who are missing some of their teeth on a particular arch and removable complete dentures are for patients who are missing all of their teeth in either single arch(maxillary or mandibular) or both arches.
Dentures are made from heat-cured acrylic polymethyl methacrylate and rubber reinforced polymethyl methacrylate. They are made from acrylic due to the ease of material manipulation and likeness to intra-oral tissues. Coloring agents and synthetic fibres are added to obtain the tissue like shade and to mimic the small capillaries of the mucosa. These are fragile and can easily fracture if the patient has trouble adapting neuromuscular control or improper handling. These do not feel like natural teeth nor they function like natural teeth but they can help the patient through mastication, esthetics, pronunciation and self esteem. They cause salivary glands to produce more saliva but it usually come to normal after 24-48 hrs after denture insertion. They can also cause gagging in some patients. There is a loss of food sensation in the mouth due to them. If not cleaned regularly, can cause gingivitis due to accumulation of plaque. They do not function like natural teeth and it takes time to learn to chew with them.
