Dentures are oral prosthetic devices made to replace missing teeth. While conventional dentures are removable, contemporary denture designs may rely on implant technology to permanently affix them to existing teeth, jawbone, and gums. Dentures allow patients to have healthy, aesthetic, and functioning teeth for long periods of time. Dentures fill in the empty spaces left by missing teeth, giving patients confident, bright smiles. Dentures help preserve the remaining teeth within the mouth by not allowing the teeth to shift (a common occurrence when missing teeth are a factor). An example of a type of denture is implant-supported dentures. These devices look natural and last for a very long time, as they are supported by a dental implant (an artificial tooth root, affixed into the jawbone and intended to hold a denture in place).