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Lack of all teeth

The lack of all teeth is one of the biggest dental problems and as such strongly affects the quality of life of patients. A classic denture will solve this problem if we cannot use a better implant solution or as a more economical option.

What will you learn in this article?

What kind of dentures are there?

Dentures are mobile prostheses. This means that they are not permanently fixed and the patient can take them out and put them back in their mouth.

We differentiate between solutions that replace all teeth, so-called full or complete dentures, and solutions that replace individual teeth, so-called partial  dentures.

Complete and partial dentures

There are also fixed dentures, but they belong to implant-prosthetic solutions, as they combine the installation of dental implants and prosthesis.

It is an implant solution All-on-4, which is explained in detail on our website “All-on-4, a dental bridge on implants”.

Our clinic specializes in dental prosthetics with half a century of tradition based on dental prosthetics.

We will surely find a quality, affordable and long-lasting solution for your lack of teeth.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional check-up without leaving your home!

We offer a virtual dental examination. Learn more!

Full or complete dentures

A complete denture replaces all teeth of one jaw, so we have upper and lower dentures.

The base of a complete denture is made of acrylate, a type of lightweight, biocompatible plastic that has been used in dentistry for many years.

Artificial teeth are installed on the base, which can also be made of acrylate or a higher-quality ceramic material.

In addition to possessing the appropriate physical and chemical properties for long-term use and durability, acrylic plastic also has the required aesthetic properties and its colour perfectly imitates the gums which it partially replaces.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb, centar: potpuna gornja i donja zubna proteza.
Complete upper and lower denture

In order to remain attached to the jaw, vacuum is applied at the acrylic base between the base and soft tissues of the palate, jaw ridge, and tissue under the tongue.

That is why we must guarantee a precise and quality adhesion of the base along the shape of the jaw ridge and soft tissues.

The procedure of making a complete denture

Making a full or complete denture takes about 15 days. The procedure also requires 6 to 7 visits to our clinic during that time.

A tradition of quality in the Apolonija Dental Clinic

In addition, we would like to stress that here at the Apolonija Dental Clinic, we follow a prosthetic protocol which will guarantee a high quality denture in terms of function and aesthetics.

We are proud to use the special methodology for making dentures that is the legacy of Dr. Mira Jukić-Lauc, who has been the leading expert for making dentures in Croatia for years.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: doktorica Mira Jukić-Lauc.
dr. Mira Jukić-Lauc, dr.med.dent.

Dr. Jukić-Lauc launched a dental practice out of which our clinic grew, and today the tradition of high-quality dental prosthetics in the Apolonija Dental Clinic is kept by  Ivana Toljan , M.Sc., DMD, specialist in dental prosthetics.

Because we follow the traditional rules and approach each prosthesis entirely individually, our patients  are happy with their new and beautiful teeth for many years.

Start: planning a denture

  • When planning a denture, we will check your general and dental health. For some patients, an X-ray image of the jaw will be required.
  • The tissues on which the denture will be placed must be healthy. Therefore, in this stage, we will treat them if necessary.
  • The result will be setting the final diagnosis, making a plan of treatment, and discussing your expectations from the future prosthetic work.

Visit 1: Taking the first dental impression

  • The first imprint we will take is called an anatomical impression. It will help us determine the movable and immovable boundaries of the mucosa and jaw.
Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb, centar: otisak za izradu proteze.
Example of an impression for making a denture
  • Based on the first imprint, the dental laboratory will prepare for the second, functional imprint.

Visit 2: Taking the second dental impression

  • When the working model is ready, on the second visit, we take a functional imprint.
  • It will help us precisely determine the shape and appearance of the tissue on which the base of the denture will be placed.
  • Based on it, dental technicians will make a so-called bite plate. We need it to register the interjaw relationship on your third visit to the clinic.

Visit 3: Reconstruction of the interjaw relationship

  • Interjaw relationships in edentulous patients are disturbed. This is due to the loss of teeth, and thus the loss of the jaw ridge. Therefore, they need to be reconstructed.
  • We reconstruct interjaw relationships using the bite plate made on the basis of the second impression.
  • In this stage, you visit the clinic again so that we can record interjaw relationships on a bite plate through a series of activities, such as pronouncing certain voices and words.
  • We will also decide on the shades of teeth and the acrylic base. This decision is based on the patient’s age, colour of face, lips, gums, eyes, hair, and sometimes an old denture, if you have one, serves as a template.

Visit 4: Trial front teeth

  • Using a bite plate, the dental laboratory makes the first trial denture. Dental technicians will arrange the artificial teeth into a base made of wax, taking into account all the parameters of function and aesthetics obtained so far.
Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb, centar: jedna od faza prilagodbe  proteze u zubotehničkom laboratoriju.
One of the stages in the procedure of making a denture
  • This is how a trial denture is made, which the patient should try in their mouth. According to our protocol for making dentures, you will first come to try the front teeth.

Visit 5: Trial denture

  • This is a continuation of the previous step, and the difference is that in the meantime we adapted the front teeth on the denture and added the back teeth.
  • If the patient and the specialist in dental prosthetics conclude that the prepared model is satisfactory both in terms of function, aesthetics and intelligibility of the patient’s speech, we can start making a permanent denture.

Step 6: Placement of the finished denture

  • After the trial model of the denture, with the teeth arranged in a wax base, is completely adapted to your needs and jaw, the base is made out of acrylate and the denture is polished to achieve high shine.
  • When the denture is finished, you will visit our clinic for its placement and adjustment. We will also give you tips on how to chew, talk or how to maintain the denture and oral hygiene.
  • We will also familiarize you with the stages of adjustment and what they will look like until you completely accept your new teeth.
  • It will probably take a couple more visits for the denture to completely adjust and to make it as comfortable as possible.
  • Tako nastaje probna proteza koju pacijent treba isprobati u ustima. U skladu s našim protokolom izrade proteza, prvo ćete doći na isprobavanje fronte.
Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: dovršena potpuna proteza, polirana do visokog sjaja.
Complete upper and lower denture polished to a high shine

Our clinic specializes in dental prosthetics with half a century of tradition based on dental prosthetics.

We will surely find a quality, affordable and long-lasting solution for your lack of teeth.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional check-up without leaving your home!

We offer a virtual dental examination. Learn more!

Disadvantages of a complete denture

Although a complete denture is a high-quality and affordable solution to the lack of all teeth, it should be noted that dentures do not have a positive effect on the bone as dental implants do.

This means that, as a result of wearing a denture, the bone is resorbed and decreased. For this reason, a denture becomes uncomfortable or starts to fall out, so it needs to be regularly relined.

Partial denture

As we already said, there are also partial dentures. As the name itself suggests, it is a solution for replacing several, most often a large number of lost teeth.

We use a partial denture if we cannot compensate for the loss of a large number of teeth with a fixed prosthesis, such as a dental bridge, for objective reasons.

The materials used to make a partial denture are acrylic plastic, out of which the base and teeth are made, stainless steel and an alloy called wironit, which we use to strengthen the denture. Teeth can also be made of ceramic materials.

Use of partial dentures

This is a specific type of denture. It allows us to replace several lost teeth with one prosthesis at various places in the same jaw.

For example, sometimes patients lose one or two front teeth, but also teeth at the back of the jaw, both on the left and on the right side. A partial denture allows us to replace them all with one prosthesis instead of several.

Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: primjer parcijalne ili djelomične zubne proteze, s kvačicama i drugim retencijskim elementima.
One variant of a partial denture

How does a partial denture work?

A classic partial denture primarily uses the remaining teeth and surrounding tissues for support.

Along with them, we always use retention elements such as clasps, attachments, rests and the like, made of metal, in order to strengthen and stabilize the denture.

The disadvantage of such a classic way of retention and stabilization is the visibility of wires and clasps that hold the denture in place.

Another disadvantage is that the retention elements of such dentures often require preparation and shaving of  natural teeth.

For this reason, combinations of a classic partial denture with fixed prostheses and dental implants were developed over time.

Thus, as means of fixing and stabilizing partial dentures, a dental bridge or crown may be used, then the so-called telescopic crowns and special attachments on dental implants ( bars and balls).

The role of these retention elements is not only to fix and stabilize the denture, but also to transfer chewing forces.

That is why today partial dentures that combine a mobile prosthesis and fixed retention elements on dental implants are most widely appreciated.

This combination is the best solution to compensate for the function and aesthetics of several teeth we want to replace.

How is a partial denture made?

Since there are many variants and materials for making a partial denture, the procedure differs depending on the construction of the denture.

In case of a classic mobile partial denture, the procedure is much shorter and simpler than if we combine it with fixed prostheses and dental implants.

A classic partial denture

The first step is extensive diagnostics  and talking to the patient about their expectations. If the best solution for the patient is this type of denture, the procedure is similar to making a complete denture:

Taking imprints.

  • Imprints will help us register interjaw relationships and determine the height of the bite.
Stomatološka poliklinika Apolonija, Zagreb centar: proces izrade parcijalne zubne proteze.
Making a partial denture

Trial denture.

  • Based on the data obtained using the impressions, the dental laboratory will prepare a trial partial denture. It will help us determine whether the construction meets the functional and aesthetic goals.

Making and placing a permanent denture.

  • After the denture is tried and possibly adjusted, it is produced and then the final prosthesis is placed.

A combined partial denture

If we combine a partial denture with fixed prosthetic supplements and dental implants, the procedure is much longer and more complex.

First you need to place all fixed prostheses or dental implants, and then, as already described, the mobile part of the partial denture is made.

Read more about the installation of dental implants on our website “Dental implant procedure in Apolonija”.

Did you find out what you wanted to know?

In this article you have learned more about complete and partial dentures. You may want to learn more about the following topics:

Our clinic specializes in dental prosthetics with half a century of tradition based on dental prosthetics.

We will surely find a quality, affordable and long-lasting solution for your lack of teeth.

Have trust in us and contact us in case you need advice or have a question.

Get a professional check-up without leaving your home!

We offer a virtual dental examination. Learn more!