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Different Kinds of Dentures and Denture Options Overview

There are several kinds of dentures with different design choices for every possible missing tooth combination. Understandably this can get quite complicated to explain and diagnose in person, let alone write everything on this website, so here are the basic categories of dentures available. Firstly we have to identify the kinds of base materials dentures are made of.

The Three Main Kinds of Denture Bases Available

All three can be poorly made or wrongly designed, so it’s selecting the correct kind for your specific case, and what’s done with them that’s most important!

  1. Hard Acrylic
  2. Chrome Cobalt Cast Alloy
  3. Flexible Thermoplastic

1. Hard Based plastic/acrylic/polymer (the “usually pink” part)

“Acrylic” is the most commonly used general term to describe this type of denture base. It is the hard plastic that’s moulded to shape, fitting against the gums and around the denture teeth. It is also by far the most common and widely used for dentures. They all come in different shades and can be pigment-stained and characterised. Made well, they can be a complete solution your happy with – made badly, they are a total failure.

 

2. Chrome Cobalt Cast Alloy

Chrome cobalt is a lost wax processed lightweight alloy casting that’s individually designed and made to fit around your teeth, with several design choices possible for each case. The alloy melts at over 2000 degrees Celsius, and the technician’s skill doing the casting has a great effect on the overall fit. They are generally referred to as “chrome cobalt dentures” as they are the alloy’s two main ingredients. When finished, they house the pink acrylic gum and the denture teeth where your tooth spaces are. Made well, they are a fantastic solution, especially for partial dentures. They are very strong and easy to get used to. Made poorly, they are a total failure. We see many patients with new chromes that they cannot wear and just don’t fit. Usual reasons are that the alloy castings have warped, impressions are often not accurate, or the design is wrong or a combination.

Several makes and variations of alloy are available to use with differing castability properties, flexibility, and strength. Chrome cobalt is generally the strongest and easiest to wear Partial/Full Denture – the thickness of a business card but only when well designed, well made and fitted. We use one of the best Vitallium 2000+ alloy for all our castings.

PROPERTIES 

Vitallium’s outstanding properties make elegant constructions possible, causing minimal impact on the patient’s taste sensation.

BIOCOMPATIBILITY

Vitallium carries a bio certificate that proves that the alloy has been scientifically tested for its compatibility in the mouth and body. The tests were carried out at the Rhieinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule (RWTH) in Aachen, Germany. 

 DURABILITY 

The durable high-lustre alloy has a smooth surface, ensuring that damage such as plaque does not get a foothold, protecting against inflammation. 

FIT

 Last but not least, the fit. We can achieve a fit using Vitallium that is without comparison. 

3. Flexible Thermoplastic

Flexible Thermoplastic – In our view, they are only suited for a small percentage of cases where the base’s flexible nature is an advantage and can be extended to wrap around real teeth to hold a small denture in where the others would fail. This, however, is not very common as I have made more chrome dentures to replace flexible dentures that patients had issues with.

Depending on which denture base option is the best one for you, finishing new dentures can take anywhere from two appointments on the same day to over ten appointments over 3 weeks to make, depending on the complexity of your specific case and the kind of denture base you need so generalising is not really possible. As outlined above, there are many types of new dentures available. I will show you these, together with various teeth and each set of new denture combinations’ and associated costs. This way, you will be able to make an informed decision as to which kind of dentures you prefer. Together, we can then decide upon the right course of action and denture treatment for you. After discussing the cause of your denture issues, I will help you make the right decisions to solve them.

Denture Problems Solved

For over 30 years, I have literally seen thousands of patients who have suffered from either poor dentures that look nothing like their real teeth did, or painful, loose or weak dentures, after having been told that nothing more could be done for them. These are all problems that I can help you with. Get in Touch. If you are experiencing any discomfort with your dentures or would just like some friendly advice, please give me a ring or email me, as I am very experienced at solving all kinds of denture problems and will be happy to help.