What Is a Partial Denture?
These days, everyone knows someone who wears dentures. Maybe it’s your mom, grandpa, or a close friend. But what are dentures, and why are they so commonly used?
Dentures are a removable replacement for missing teeth. Most people are familiar with complete dentures, which are used when all teeth are missing, but a partial denture, used when some teeth remain, is less well-known. Let’s take a minute to explore them here.
Partial Dentures Fact Sheet
1. A partial denture is used when one or more natural teeth remain in the jaw. By filling in the spaces created by the missing teeth, a partial denture prevents other teeth from changing position and helps retain the original bite.
2. Like complete dentures, partial dentures are a natural-looking and foolproof way to improve your smile.
3. They consist of replacement teeth attached to gum-colored plastic bases, and they have a metal framework and clasps that connect to the teeth. They can also have a more natural-looking connector, depending on the type of partial denture.
4. In order to fit the partial denture into your mouth, your dentist will need to put crowns on your natural teeth, which are required for support.
5. While it may take a few weeks to get used to your partial dentures, the vast majority of patients don’t have to worry about them after that.
6. If your partial denture puts pressure on a particular spot in your mouth, your dentist can adjust them to be more comfortable.
7. Take your partial denture out before going to bed, and replace in the morning. It’s important to practice inserting and removing them so you can do it with ease.
8. Partial dentures can actually make eating a more enjoyable experience, as they allow you to eat regular food and not just soft food. But it is important to start slow, eating only soft food when you’re getting used to them.
9. Dentures also help improve speech, which can falter when you are missing teeth. Within a few weeks you’ll learn to speak properly with your dentures.
If you think you might be a candidate for complete or partial dentures, we invite you to contact one of our office locations for a consultation!
