Why are Partial Dentures Still a Reliable Choice?
Tooth loss is an increasingly common problem, especially among older adults. When you’re missing a tooth, so many things can go wrong. Among other side effects, your smile is affected, and there’s significant jawbone deterioration, facial sagging, teeth shifting, and bite function loss.
For patients missing teeth, dentures offer an excellent way to restore your smile and bite function. Dentures are custom-made, meaning that they are comfortable and have a natural appearance.
There are different types of dentures. The type of denture your dentist will use majorly depends on the number of missing teeth and the condition of jawbone and gums.
If you’re missing all the teeth, you will get complete dentures – a full set of artificial teeth. If you have lost several teeth, a partial denture is recommended. For this article, we’ll focus on partial dentures.
How does a Partial Denture Work?
A partial denture is a removable teeth-looking dental device used to replace one or a few missing teeth. Partial dentures are held into position with clasps attached to neighboring natural teeth.
They are crafted from acrylic or a combination of acrylic and metal, giving them a natural appearance and the strength needed to chew and speak normally.
To ensure a perfect fit, dentures are custom-made. Impressions or molds of your mouth are taken to create the denture. Keep in mind that poor-fitting dentures can hurt your gums, bone, and remaining teeth. Even worse, they can cause bite and speech difficulties.
Benefits of Partial Dentures
A partial denture replaces missing teeth and preserves your underlying structures such as jawbone, facial muscles, and gums. This helps prevent further jawbone deterioration, shifting of the adjacent teeth, and facial sagging.
Replacing missing teeth also lessens the risk of plaque and bacteria buildup up in the empty socket, improving your oral health.
Partial dentures also restore enough bite function to chew food and speak properly.
However, since the denture is partially attached to the mouth, it doesn’t offer as much biting strength and stability as alternative restoration treatments such as dental implants and bridges. If much pressure is applied to the dentures, say when chewing or talking, it can slip or fall out.
If the teeth to be replaced aren’t yet extracted, you can benefit from immediate dentures. The dentist removes the teeth and installs the partial dentures immediately on the same appointment.
Lastly, it’s also worth noting that getting partial dentures is less invasive. It does not require surgery or tooth shaping, which can be uncomfortable.
Can you sleep with partial dentures?
It’s not advisable to sleep with dentures in your mouth. The dentures should be removed and cleaned each night before sleeping.
Cleaning the dentures daily is essential to remove food particles and other debris around the denture. Removing the denture when sleeping also allows the gums and natural teeth holding it to rest and recover.
Before wearing the denture in the morning, ensure you brush your teeth and the denture. Rinsing your mouth after eating or drinking colored beverages also helps to get rid of trapped food particles.
When Is a Partial Denture a Right Choice?
Partial dentures are ideal if you’re missing a few teeth, especially three or more teeth next to each other. Whether you’ve lost multiple teeth due to periodontal disease, dental trauma, or severe decay, you can benefit from partial dentures.
It’s also worth noting that healthy gums and bones are essential to ensure maximum support for partial dentures. Therefore, visit a dentist near you if you’re considering partial dentures. The dentist will review your condition and advise you accordingly.
When to replace your partial denture
Depending on the construction material and oral care practices, dentures can last for 5-10 years. After that, they’ll have to be replaced to ensure a perfect fit.
It’s also worth noting that dentures can get damaged by chipping, breaking, or loosening. Notify your dentist for repair or adjustment if you notice any problem with your partial denture.
Schedule an Appointment Today
Are you looking for partial dentures services, or would you like to learn more about partial dentures? Contact York Dental Group today for more information.