Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dental appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth: A "dental plate" is a removable prosthetic device, typically made of acrylic or metal, that holds artificial teeth. It is designed to replace one or more missing teeth and rests on the gums or is supported by remaining natural teeth.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • After losing several teeth, he was fitted for a dental plate.
  • She cleans her dental plate every night before going to bed.
  • The dentist adjusted the new dental plate for a better fit.

Advanced Usage

• "to be fitted for a dental plate": to undergo the process of having a dental plate made and adjusted by a dental professional.
  • My grandfather is being fitted for a dental plate next week.
• "to have a dental plate made": to commission the creation of a custom dental prosthesis.
  • She had a dental plate made to replace her missing front teeth.

Variants and Related Words

• Denture (n): A more general term for a removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues. A dental plate is a type of denture.
  • Complete dentures replace all the teeth, while partial dentures replace only some.
• False teeth (n, informal): A common informal term for dentures or a dental plate.
  • He takes out his false teeth at night.

Synonyms

• Denture: An artificial replacement for one or more teeth.
• Prosthesis: A general term for an artificial device that replaces a missing body part; in dentistry, this can refer to a dental plate or other appliances.

Related Phrases

• Partial plate: A type of dental plate that replaces only some missing teeth and often clasps onto remaining natural teeth.
  • He wears a partial plate on his lower jaw.
• Full plate: A dental plate that replaces all the teeth in an arch (upper or lower jaw).
  • She needed a full plate after the extraction of all her upper teeth.

Noun

1. a dental appliance that artificially replaces missing teeth