If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from periodontal
disease, tooth decay or injury, complete dentures can replace your
missing teeth and your smile. Replacing missing teeth will benefit
your appearance and your health. Without support from the denture,
facial muscles sag, making a person look older. You’ll be able to eat
and speak – things that people often take for granted until their
natural teeth are lost.

There are various types of complete dentures. A conventional full
denture is made and placed in the patient’s mouth after the remaining
teeth are removed and tissues have healed which may take several
months. An immediate complete denture is inserted as soon as the
remaining teeth are removed. The dentist takes measurements and makes
models of the patient’s jaws during a preliminary visit. With
immediate dentures, the denture wearer does not have to be without
teeth during the healing period.

Even if you wear full dentures, you still must take good care of your
mouth. Brush your gums, tongue and palate every morning with a
soft-bristled brush before you insert your dentures to stimulate
circulation in your tissues and help remove plaque.