A denture is a removable set of false teeth that is used to replace missing teeth.                              

Purpose

• To restore chewing function
• To help articulation
• To restore a normal facial profile
• To restore a normal facial profile

Types

• Complete denture

To replace all teeth in a dental arch. 
A complete denture is held in the dental arch by the oral musculature; hence the denture must fit the oral mucosa well. 
A complete denture can be placed over dental implants by screw attachment devices

Materials:
The denture base can be made of acrylic polymers or gold alloy.
The false teeth on the denture base can be made of acrylic or porcelain.

Procedures for making a complete denture:
Impressions of the upper and lower dental arches are taken and the bite registration is recorded.
A mock up denture in wax is fabricated in the dental laboratory
The waxed denture is tried in the patient's mouth and adjustment is made accordingly.
The denture is processed and finished in the dental laboratory.
The finished denture is inserted in the patient's mouth and adjustments are made accordingly.

• Partial denture

To replace some missing teeth in a dental arch.

Before Treatment	After Treatment

The denture is stabilized in the mouth by metal clasps which extend from the denture base, holding onto the natural teeth
A partial denture can also be held by screw attachment devices to implants

Materials:
The denture base can be made of acrylic polymer, cobalt chromium or stainless steel.
The false teeth can be made of acrylic or porcelain

Procedures for partial denture:
Some of the natural teeth need to be slightly prepared by judicious grinding to suit the denture design.
impressions of the upper and lower dental arches are taken and the bite registration is recorded.
The metallic frame of the denture is fabricated in the dental laboratory, and the false teeth are fixed onto the frame by wax.
The denture frame is tried in the patient's mouth and adjustment is made accordingly.
The denture is processed and finished in the dental laboratory.
The finished denture is inserted in the patient's mouth and adjustments are made accordingly.

Points to note about wearing dentures

Initially it may be difficult to get use to a new denture, but you will soon be accustomed to it after wearing it for a period of time.
A new denture may be uncomfortable to wear within the first 6 months. It is not unusual to require some adjustments on the new denture.
Since oral conditions may change with time, a denture may gradually become loose and unfit. Therefore, an oral check-up should be done at least once a year so that the dentist can adjust the denture according to the oral condition.