Dentures have changed a lot since they were made of wood about 500 years ago, but the basics are the same. When an entire section of teeth is in need of replacement—due to trauma, tooth decay or gum disease—a partial or full line of teeth is created and fitted into the mouth; today, instead of wood, we use medical grade composite resin for the teeth and then fit them into a custom-molded plastic base, created to accommodate the unique contours of your mouth. Dentures, while not as long-term a solution as implants, are an efficient and economical alternative.