What Is a Partial Denture?

Missing teeth should not be a hindrance to a beautiful smile. You can replace them in various ways to restore your smile and confidence. Replacing missing teeth also ensures you have an even bite, making it vital to replace any missing teeth. The longer you stay with the gaps, the more likely the remaining teeth will shift. When they do, they can lead to more complications. These may include tooth decay and the possibility of more missing teeth.

One possible solution is the use of partial dentures. These function like regular or complete dentures with a few differences. Here are more details that may help you decide whether they are right for you.

What Are Partial Dentures?

Partial dentures are removable cosmetic devices meant to replace missing teeth. However, they have more than aesthetic benefits. They enhance your speech and help you chew your food. They also act as replacements. They prevent the remaining teeth from shifting to fill the gap of the missing teeth.

The device consists of one or several false teeth resting on a metal or plastic base. The base is pink to match your gums and the roof of your mouth. However, you should not wear them around the clock. You will need to remove them at night and clean them. Removing them allows you to brush your teeth properly. It also reduces the possibility of developing cavities in the nearby teeth.

Types of Partial Dentures

There are different types of partial dentures due to various manufacturing techniques and the materials that manufacturers use. There are also dentures to replace the front and posterior portions of your teeth.

Dentists will decide which type of partial dentures suits your case by considering the following.

The Number of Missing Teeth

Partial dentures are only one way to replace missing teeth. You can also get regular or complete dentures. However, your dentist may have to pull your remaining teeth to fit you with these. You can get bridges, but they replace missing teeth on one side of the mouth. Partial dentures can replace missing teeth on either side, making them the preferable option in such cases. They can replace three or more missing teeth next to each other.

Materials

Different manufacturers can use different materials for the base of the partial dentures. Some will use plastic and polymers, while others use metals like chromium or cobalt mixtures. However, some people have allergic reactions to metal. They cause inflammation.

Metal is durable. It tends to be expensive, although lighter than plastic. On the other hand, plastic and its polymers can be flexible. They are easy to wear and repair. They also have a desirable aesthetic appearance. Lightweight thermoplastics are thin and do not have visible metal clips. It also means they can break easily and require more care.

Durability

Sometimes, your dentist may give you temporary partial implants instead of permanent ones. It happens in cases where they need to extract teeth and give your gums time to heal. After your gums heal in six months, they may fit you with permanent partial dentures.

For more information on partial dentures, visit Castro Valley Dentistry at our office in Castro Valley, California. Call (510) 674-0900 to book an appointment today.