Dentures Dentures are constructed of hard plastic or a combination of metal and plastic. They can replace a single missing tooth or all of the natural teeth. Full dentures stay in place by resting on the gums. Fitting a set of dentures usually takes several visits with the dentist. Although dentures look natural and fit well, they will not be as comfortable as your natural teeth. Some partial dentures apply force to the natural teeth and they can also contribute to tooth decay and gum disease. To avoid these problems, always remove your dentures at night and soak them in water and a cleansing agent. Be sure to regularly clean both your dentures and natural teeth as well as cleaning and massaging your gums. Remember that it’s important to have your dentures checked regularly and your general oral health checked regularly.   Partials Partials or bridges contain replacement teeth to fill in the gap where teeth are missing. It is important to fill this space not only for cosmetic reasons but also for health reasons. Teeth will move and shift, the bite can be affected and other teeth can be damaged. Partials are generally made of porcelain and look exactly like real teeth. Molds are made to correctly fit the teeth. Some partials are removable, but usually partials are attached to surrounding teeth. With proper care, partials are very durable.   Relines There are two different types of denture relines. A hard reline can be done in a dental office with office cured plastic, or be sent to a dental laboratory and processed in a laboratory cured plastic. Due to special processing, the lab reline tends to last longer. A soft reline can be done at the office or at a laboratory. Denture relines are necessary to increase retention of old, existing dentures or new dentures that have lost retention. They are helpful in gum tissue conditioning. This abused gum tissue will return to a proper state of health prior to the fabrication of new dentures. Consult with your dentist for more details.