Dentures and Bridges
Dentures
Removable dentures may be complete (replacing all teeth) or partial (replacing some teeth). They should be removed during the oral examination and assessed for:
- Fit
- Comfort
- Broken areas
- Missing prosthetic teeth
Bridges
Fixed bridges may replace one or more teeth and are connected to adjacent healthy teeth using a crown. A bridge cannot be removed. Teeth serving as retention for partial dentures or attachments for bridges may be:
- More difficult to clean
- Prone to caries and gum disease
Robert Henry, DMD, MPH