Full Dentures is a book written for you. Through its many photographs and sketches it's a guide on how to get the most for your dollar, as well as giving you choices that were perhaps unknown to you, or that so far have not been offered to you. My intention is that once you have read this book, and discussed your options and choices with your dental practitioner, you will be left feeling comfortable and satisfied with your new dentures. Your dentures define you as an individual. As such you should have a say in what you are purchasing - rather than just accepting what is given to you!

In my thirty five years’ experience as a practicing dental technician and doctor of dental prosthetics I have seen many thousands of cases where, in my opinion, you, the patient, have not been given value for money or have not received what you wanted or asked for. As your dentures were already made it was too late to change any aspect of the work, and perhaps all you were left with was unsatisfactory-looking and ill-fitting dentures. You may have even heard comments such as, give them some time to settle in; or even worse, persevere and the ulcers will go away eventually. I have seen extreme cases where patients have been told to persevere with their new dentures and the only result has been agonizing ulcers or, worse, bleeding gums!

Partial Dentures. My intention in writing this book is to guide you through the multiplicity of choices which stand before you when requiring a removable partial denture. Although in many cases it is the domain of your dental practitioner to make the right choice; you should still have an understanding of what it is that you are purchasing, including all the pros and cons associated with each type of removable dental appliance.

There are many factors to consider when choosing a partial denture. Factors such as cost, longevity, natural looks, mechanical stability, ongoing tooth additions and so on. All of these, and much more, are explained in detail as we go through the chapters.