Plastic Dentures or Metallic Dentures?

Dentures are artificial teeth the is positioned to the gum. The teeth are made of either acrylic or porcelain and they match the color of the remaining teeth in your mouth. The base of the denture is the same color as your gum making it virtually impossible to detect if the person has an artificial teeth or not. The base can also be made of acrylic or dental alloy.

Before you get a mold for your teeth and gums, any necessary procedures should be completed first. If you are getting a full set of dentures, then the remaining teeth have to be removed first then your gum is given a time to heal.

Other ways included the teeth not removed but ground down to stubs to be as near to the gum as possible. If the teeth in question is considered useless, then it is fully extracted. Some teeth can be used to support the dentures are then crowned.

Dentures are classified by the material used for the base, the number of teeth and whether it will be partial or full.

Partial Denture – If there are remaining sets of healthy teeth, these are kept. The teeth can also act as supports for the dentures and the wings of the dentures will be attached to the teeth.

Full Denture – This is needed when there are no more original set of teeth or most of it are already lost. A full denture is needed when there is 24 to 28 missing teeth. Under this procedure, existing teeth will be extracted. There is also a procedure called overdenture in which the existing teeth are ground down so it is leveled with the gum.

Dentures are classified by the base material it is made of. There are two types: acrylic and porcelain and you’re free to choose what material do you prefer.

Metal-base dentures are often called metal dentures which is incorrect since the base is the only thing that is metal in the denture. Metal-based dentures come in two forms:

Standard Metal-Based Dentures – this comes in direct contact with the gum tissue so it should be made of hypoallergenic, bio-compatible medical grade alloy.

Modified Metal-Base Denture – The metal base is separated from the supporting tissue though the use of either a soft or hard plastic liner. Soft liners are usually preferred since hard liners are not that comfortable. The disadvantage of a soft liner is that it needs to be replaced annually.

The material used to construct the base have its own advantages and disadvantages. How you choose what base material is best will be determined by the factors involved in each case.

Merits of Metal-Base Dentures

• They have excellent strength and durability.

• Not that difficult to reline.

• Extra strength to narrow dentures.

• It can be made narrow.

• It helps avoid surgical procedures for repositioning frenum.

• It’s lightweight;therefore it gives the wearer a very natural feeling than plastic dentures.

• More stable than other bases.

Demerits of Metal-Based Dentures

Cost. Metal dentures are more expensive than plastic ones.

Relining. It is more difficult to align but a modified metal-based denture will ease that difficulty.

Completely made of plastic, these dentures are normally rigid in nature. However, modern dentistry allows for a more flexible plastic-base dentures.

Merits of plastic dentures

Cost – cheaper to produce

Easier to make

Perfect for immediate dentures.

Demerits of plastic dentures

Fragile. Can break down easily.

Stability. They shrink; thus the need for relining is imminent.

Gum Damage. Can easily irritate the gums.

Soaking. They must be kept in a soaking solution when removed.

We offer two types of special dentures, these are:

Overdentures

Immediate Dentures

When you need a denture immediately, this is a perfect choice. These are cost-effective and easily fabricated plastic dentures given to the patient after a teeth extraction. Immediate dentures are usually worn up to the time a permanent denture is ready and while the gums heal. They are needed to be worn for a few months. They are usually called ‘flipper’ dentures.

Overdentures are a special form of dentures that sits on top of a good set of teeth. Sometimes it is better to have the good set of teeth not extracted so these are grinded to stubs that the denture can sit over. Overdentures are particularly helpful to be used in the lower jaw.

Unsuitability of Overdentures. Overdentures are not usually suitable for the following cases;

Improper oral hygiene. The saved roots and stubs need to be kept clean. If the patient cannot maintain a good oral hygiene, then overdenture is not recommended.

Excessive Decay. If the patient has unusual tooth decay, the roots can decay very fast with overdentures.

Loose teeth. Since the teeth stub need strenght, a loose teeth won’t function well.

Location. When there are places in which the set of teeth can not be used to bear the chewing load.

Unsuitable shape. If, despite the grinding, the roots cannot be made into its correct shape.

Merits of Overdentures

Overdentures have merits, here are some of those:

• The chewing force that the gum would otherwise bear in full are shared by the original set of teeth.

• The teeth adds stability to the dentures.

• The retention of the teeth avoids bone resorption.

• It prevents the shrinking of the facial contours of the patient.

• Since the pressure is spread throughout the jawbone, it results to a more natural feel.

Problems with Overdentures:

• Can’t always be a viable solution.

• There’s plenty of preparation to do.

• Expensive

• Getting an accurate fit will take a while.

Check out different types of dentures here.

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