Types of dentures

Crowns are artificial (prosthetic) teeth made of metal, porcelain or plastic. They are placed on remaining teeth to stabilize and preserve them. Full crowns cover the entire tooth, and partial crowns only cover part of the tooth. In order to create a well-fitting crown, the dentist first needs to file the remaining tooth and make a mold.

Bridges can replace one or several teeth, and are usually used for smaller gaps. They are only an option if there are enough remaining stable teeth, or if dental implants can be put in first. These are needed in order to keep the artificial teeth in place, so they can close the gap. The teeth that are used to support bridges are sometimes called "abutment teeth."

Different types of bridges may be needed, depending on the location and size of the gap. For example, a fixed bridge can be used to close a gap between two teeth. It is fixed to two abutment teeth – one on either side of the gap. These provide support for the bridge. Cantilever bridges are used to replace teeth that only have an abutment tooth on one side, such as a molar at the very back of your mouth. These kinds of bridges are supported by at least two teeth on the other side, for extra stability.

Bridges can be fixed in place in various ways. The abutment teeth can be recontoured (filed down and reshaped) and then fitted with crowns. The artificial tooth is then fixed to the crowns on either side, forming a bridge. In inlay bridges, fillings are put in the abutment teeth that the bridge is anchored to. Resin-bonded bridges (also called Maryland bridges) bond the artificial tooth to the backs of the neighboring teeth using short metal “wings.”

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made of metal (titanium) which can hold different types of artificial teeth, including crowns or bridges. Dental implants are anchored in the jawbone, much like wall plugs are used in a wall. The bone tissue there fuses with the surface of the dental implant to provide a stable foundation for the artificial tooth. Artificial teeth that are supported by dental implants are also referred to as superstructures.

Partial dentures made of plastic and metal can be used if several teeth are missing, but there are still remaining teeth nearby. They are fixed to natural teeth or implants – for instance, using metal clasps – and can be taken out at any time.

Complete dentures replace all of the natural teeth in the upper and/or lower jaw. Ideally, they look just like natural teeth and allow you to chew and speak normally again. Complete dentures are usually made entirely of plastic. The key to properly fitted complete dentures is a good match to the jaw. They can also be fixed to the roots of teeth or dental implants – and are then called hybrid dentures.