Complete dentures are designed for edentulous patients ( patients with no teeth). Comfort levels depend on the state of bone ridges. Good bone ridges allow great support and retention, thus higher level of comfort. Severely resorbed bone ridges make unstable and poorly retentive dentures, thus more discomfort. In this case, implant-supported overdentures are a better solution.
Partial dentures are designed for patients who lose some teeth but still have some good teeth retained. Patients can choose to have metal-based partial or resin-based (non-metal) partial or non-metal flexible partial.