Dentures are removable appliances that replace missing teeth.

Many people first come to our office with the complaint of poorly-fitting and unaesthetic partial and/or complete dentures.  Dr. Eric Meeker is committed to high-quality denture work that looks beautiful and lasts.

A Brief History of Dentures

Dentures have been around for a long time.  The Etruscans of Northern Italy, as far back as 700BC, made dentures from human and other animal teeth.  I know that sounds gross, but hey, it is what it was.

Over the centuries, dentures have been made from materials such as wood, ivory and porcelain.  Probably the most famous denture wearer was George Washington, whose dentures were made out of hippopotamus ivory.

Today, complete dentures are usually made out of acrylic resin.

Partial Dentures

Partial Dentures replace missing teeth for someone who still has some teeth left in an arch (upper or lower).  Partial Dentures are held in by using certain existing teeth as holders for the appliance.  It’s easier to show than to tell, so look at the pictures if you don’t understand clearly.

Before	After

Partial dentures use acrylic teeth and gums.  They are strengthened and held in by a highly polished nickel-chrome framework.

For maximum aesthetics, claspless partial dentures can be custom made to provide outstanding precision-fit retention and a natural, metal-free look.

Complete Dentures

Complete dentures replace all the missing teeth in an arch (upper and/or lower).

Upper complete dentures tend to fit and stay in better due to their ability to suction against the hard palate.

Lower complete dentures are more difficult to retain and chew with due to:

1. Lack of suction
2. The tongue
3. The moveable floor of the mouth.
4. The tendency for the mandible (lower jawbone) to atrophy more than the maxilla (upper jawbone).

If denture retention is unsatisfactory, dental implants can be placed and attached to a denture.  This significantly increases the retention and chewing force.  “Significantly”, means a life-transforming change.

Immediate Dentures

This is same-day teeth removal and denture insertion.  If you have teeth that are in hopeless condition due to decay, periodontal (gum) disease and/or other factors, then immediate dentures may be a good option.

A complete examination and x-rays will be done, followed by a discussion of your dental condition.  If at this time it is determined that complete dentures are the best course of treatment, impressions for an immediate denture will be taken.  The complete denture is then fabricated, and you are brought back for an appointment to extract the hopeless teeth and deliver the new denture all at once.  You are never without teeth.  Consider it an instant smile makeover!

Before	After

If you live in Eustis, Mount Dora, Tavares, Leesburg or the Lake County area, and are considering dentures or are unhappy with your existing appliance, call Dr. Eric Meeker for a consultation to see what can be done to make your smile look and feel better.