DENTURES Dentures are often referred to as false teeth. They are needed when you have all of your upper or lower teeth removed. Complete dentures replace both top and bottom teeth while a partial denture can either be just the uppers or just the lowers. A partial denture, or overdenture, fits over a small number of natural teeth. Dentures are constructed using a flesh colored plastic base material. Natural-looking teeth made from plastic are inserted into the base material. Dentures allow you to maintain your smile and to eat normally. However, most people find it takes time to get accustomed to dentures. It is very important to clean you dentures daily. They should be brushed with a denture brush using a special denture cleanser. After you clean you dentures, you should either put them back into your mouth or store them in a denture cleanser soaking solution or in water. It is very important to keep the dentures moist when you are not wearing them. It is possible for the flesh colored base material to warp or change shape if they dry out. Dentures last for a long time. However, eventually they will need to be relined, remade or rebased due to normal wear. Typically this procedure can be done in your dentist's office. In some cases, the denture will have to be sent to a dental laboratory that specializes in the construction and repair of dentures. It is very important for you to continue to visit your dentist regular. Such visits will assure that your dentures continue to fit properly. In addition, it is very important that your dentist is able to examine your mouth for signs of oral diseases, including cancer. Back to Topics