Total dentures

In dentistry, a full denture is the treatment of one or both completely edentulous jaws with removable dentures. This finds its hold on the jaw by negative pressure. (Adhesion principle) The principle can be compared to two glass plates adhering to each other with a film of water in between. Due to the fact that no air comes between the two plates, they stick to each other. In order to achieve this effect with a prosthesis, it must be adapted particularly precisely.

A denture sits on a so-called denture bearing. This refers to the areas of the oral mucosa and the underlying bones. They transmit the forces hitting the dentures and hold the denture in place. The base of the full denture lies directly on the mucosa of the jaw and the underlying bone.

Production of a full denture

The dentist makes an impression of the jaw and uses it to make a plaster model, which is an exact copy of the situation in the mouth. The prosthesis is then made on the model. After one or two intermediate fittings, the finished prosthesis can be inserted.

A denture always requires a certain habituation phase after insertion by the dentist and is always a foreign body to which you have to get used first. Especially after the insertion of full dentures, pressure points occur due to the new mechanical load. Artificial adhesives can improve adhesion between the base and the mucous membrane. They can be a useful help, especially in the initial or acclimatization phase. However, care must be taken not to use too much adhesive gel, otherwise the superfluous gel swells out at the edges and worsens the adhesive force.

If it is not possible to achieve sufficient support with full dentures due to the low jaw ridge height, additional implants should be considered.