Which Type of Dentures Is Best for Me?

Dentures make tooth replacement an accessible option for virtually everyone. They’re cost-effective, easy to install, and easy to maintain.

In fact, your biggest problem right now might not be the gap in your smile but figuring out which type of dentures will work best for you.

The good news is, you don’t have to make that decision on your own. During your denture consultation, our team at Mamkin Dentistry Aesthetic & Restorative Center in Ridgewood, New York, thoroughly evaluates your mouth and gives detailed information about all of your options. 

But there’s no reason you can’t show up to your appointment with a few of the facts in your back pocket. 

Here’s a closer look at some of the most popular types of dentures so you can start considering your options. 

Full dentures

Full dentures (you may also hear them called complete dentures) are likely what you picture when you think of dentures. We recommend them to our patients with an entire row of teeth missing. They rest comfortably on your gums, using the roof of your mouth and jawbone ridge for support and stability.

This type of denture is easy to remove for cleaning at night, so you may need to apply some dental adhesive to keep them in place during the day.

Partial dentures

If you’re missing several or most of your teeth, partial dentures may be your best option. Partial dentures work similarly to full dentures, but they come equipped with special clasps that hook around your remaining natural teeth for added stability.

Dentures plus implants

Want the best of both worlds? Consider adding dental implants to your dentures. There are two main types: implant-retained and implant-supported dentures.

Implant-retained dentures

Your implant-retained dentures are very similar to partial dentures. Instead of snapping onto natural teeth, they click in and out of clips attached to dental implants.

You can remove implant-retained dentures to clean them and rest your gums, but many of our patients prefer them to traditional dentures because they offer more daytime stability.

Implant-supported dentures

Not interested in popping dentures in and out every day? Implant-supported dentures may be right for you. They offer the only permanent denture solution — only a dentist can remove them.

Implant-supported dentures are great for those looking for the permanency of dental implants without the price tag.

A note on immediate dentures

There’s another type of denture called immediate dentures. We turn to immediate dentures after a tooth extraction, often as a placeholder until your final set arrives.

If you need to have one or more teeth extracted before receiving your dentures, we may recommend you wear a set of temporary dentures right after your procedure.

How we help you decide

Before we help you decide which type of denture is best for you, we need to ensure that dentures are generally the best path forward.

We do that by evaluating your remaining teeth and taking detailed images of your mouth to assess the state of your jawbone. If dentures are right for you, we begin discussing the options we outlined above. The denture that’s right for you depends mainly on:

• How many teeth you’re missing
• How long you’ve been missing your teeth
• Whether you want a removable or nonremovable option
• The thickness of your jawbone

Dentures are never a one-size-fits-all option. Our team considers your comfort, lifestyle, and personal preferences before recommending a course of action.

If you have more questions about dentures or if you’re ready to schedule a consultation with an expert, call our friendly staff at 718-736-2785 or use our online booking tool to request a consultation today.