Full Dentures

When all the teeth in a jaw are lost usually to severe periodontal disease, decay or injury, it is sometimes necessary to replace the teeth with a full denture for functional or cosmetic reasons. The framework for a full denture covers more of the jaw than a partial denture. It is usually made of a pink acrylic plastic and covers the whole dental ridge. Upper dentures cover the entire roof of the mouth and lower dentures are horse-shoe shaped to leave room for the tongue. A full denture is supported by underlying gum and held in place by saliva or a commercial adhesive paste for dentures. An upper denture is held in place by a vacuum that is created after a seal is formed.