Dentures, also known as false teeth, are dental prostheses that are used to replace lost or extracted natural teeth of either one jaw or both jaws. The dentist makes them fit comfortably according to the patient’s jaw size and shape. Cosmetic dentures are a natural-looking, well-fitting appliance that blends in harmoniously with the patient’s oral cavity and facial features to give them a natural great-looking smile where no one can tell that their teeth are missing. These cosmetic dentures not only replace the missing bone but also provide the person back the bone that they had lost over the years, making them appear younger. What are the different types of dentures? There are many types of dentures available, some of them are as follows: 1. Complete Dentures Complete dentures are dental prostheses that are designed to replace all of the missing natural teeth (completely edentulous patient) in one or both upper and lower arches. Complete dentures are made from an acrylic base material that is designed to replicate the color of the patient's gums. To this are attached artificial porcelain or metal teeth. These dentures are placed in the mouth with the help of oral adhesive or sealants. Complete dentures are further classified into two types: * Conventional dentures: These conventional dentures are ready to be placed onto the patient’s gums after 3 to 4 months, which is required for the gum’s healing period. * Immediate dentures: Immediate dentures can be ‘immediately’ placed in the patient’s oral cavity after tooth extraction.

2. Partial dentures Partial dentures are designed for those patients who have a part of the dentition missing in both arches or either upper or lower arch. Partial dentures are made of various materials depending on the patient's requirements and tooth morphology. They consist of an acrylic base plate or cast shape, so they provide support for the replacement tooth. They can also be secured to the adjacent teeth with the help of metal clasps or clips. Partial dentures are also further divided into two types: * Fixed partial dentures: These are used for replacing one or more teeth in a row. This is done by placing custom-made crowns on the teeth surrounding the space and then placing the replacement tooth between them. This is done by using dental cement and thus permanently fixing them on their position. Therefore, the patient is unable to remove them on their own. * Removable partial dentures: These are used to replace a significant number of missing teeth. They are made onto a plastic, gum-colored base that is placed easily into the mouth and can be removed at any time and whenever necessary by the patient. All things considered, the only advantage that they have over fixed dentures is that removable dentures are cost-effective. Some of the benefits of partial dentures are: • The plastic base is attached to a metal framework that provides a stronger and sturdy option. • Dental cement can be used to ensure that the dentures can withstand the biting forces. • Another critical point is that they prevent the surrounding tooth from changing positions. 3. Removable dentures Removable dentures are those that can be removed easily by the patient and can be put back in. There are both removable complete dentures and partial dentures. Removable dentures are placed in the oral cavity with the help of oral adhesives that come in either paste or powder form. Removable dentures must be removed during meals and at bedtime and soaked in water overnight. Removable dentures after long wear may become loose and have to be realigned and reshaped by the dentist. 4. Fixed dentures Fixed dentures are those dentures that are fixed in place by implants inserted in the jaw bone. They cannot be willingly removed by the patient. They provide better resistance to chewing forces, unlike removable dentures that may slip and thus create an embarrassing situation for the patient. 5. All-on-4 Dentures All-on-4 dentures are used to replace several missing teeth in an arch by placing four dental implants in the jawbone. The implants can support both fixed and removable dentures and also help to maintain the strength and integrity of the jawbone. In these dentures, the implants are so designed so that they fuse with the jaw bone and mimic the permanent teeth in both form and function. 6. All-on-6 Dentures All-on-6 dentures are used as a replacement for a significant amount of missing teeth in an arch (upper or lower). In these dentures, an entire prosthetic arch is fitted onto six dental implants present in the jaw bone.

7. Cosmetic dentures Cosmetic dentures are the well-fitting dentures that replace the patient's teeth, giving a natural smile, and people cannot even tell if their teeth were even missing. Cosmetic dentures take personalization to another level by factoring in the importance of tooth shape. Cosmetic dentures are of two types: * Full cosmetic dentures: A new denture transformed into a cosmetic denture is categorized under the complete cosmetic denture. With full dentures, you can speak and eat solid food with confidence as it naturally fills out your cheeks and lips. * Partial cosmetic dentures: This type is free from wires and clips that hold it in place. Partial dentures fill the gaps left by one or more teeth. Unlike dental bridges, partial dentures require no alteration to the surrounding teeth. Moreover, partial dentures are removable and can also be secured with dental implants. To sum up: Dentures are dental prostheses that replace the part of the entire arch that is missing teeth. They improve the patient's smile and help boost that patient's self-confidence. They can be complete dentures, partial dentures, cosmetic dentures, and many more. FAQs Q1. Do dentures affect kissing? Not all dentures are loose and likely to fall out while kissing. If you get better-fitting dentures, you won't have to worry about them as much. Better yet, implant dentures can be fully secured so that they won't become dislodged. Dentures do not interfere with a patient’s dating life. It is still better if you tell our significant other about your dentures beforehand. However, partial dentures pose a unique challenge for kissing. They tend to be secured to your natural teeth with hooks or clasps, which is secure enough for many things, but it might not be enough for kissing. Q2. Do dentures change your voice? When dentures are made too big for the patient's mouth, they will affect their speech. This changes the size of the mouth and the way sound travels through it, possibly making speech very difficult. Sometimes dentures click during speech because they slip out while the person is talking. Adjusting to dentures means that, in time and with some practice, the person will be able to speak clearly. At first, their voice may sound odd because the sound reaches the ears through vibrations in the bones of the jaw and skull. Wearing dentures changes and increases the sound, but this is only noticed by the patient. After two weeks, most denture wearers can talk and eat normally. Salivation and sore spots tend to decrease by this time. Denture adhesives can be used now and can help the patient feel more comfortable.