If you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, a natural-looking, custom-designed partial denture might be just right for you. A removable partial denture typically consists of replacement teeth attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is usually connected by a metal frame that holds the denture in place. Partial dentures are used when some of a person’s natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw.
A partial denture can offer several important advantages to anyone who has lost any teeth. A partial denture can fill the gaps and help you eat, talk to others, and smile once again with confidence. A removable partial denture can also add support to the cheeks and lips so that your facial skin does not sag and make you appear older than you really are.
It’s important to replace missing teeth because the adjacent teeth, over time, will drift or tilt into the gap, putting unnatural stress on your jaws and remaining teeth. The remaining teeth can also become harder to clean, so there’s a potential for gum disease and tooth decay if missing teeth aren’t replaced.
HOW DO PARTIAL DENTURES WORK?
A partial denture usually has replacement teeth attached to an acrylic base that is the same color as your gums. Partial dentures also usually have some type of clasp that connects and attaches the partial denture to your natural teeth, holding the partial denture in place. Your dentist may also suggest crowns or “caps” for some of your remaining teeth to improve the partial denture’s fit. In Southern California, your San Diego family dentist can conduct a brief examination to determine exactly what kind of partial denture is right for you.
It takes a few weeks and some practice to get comfortable with wearing a removable partial denture. You never want to force a partial denture into place – that could damage the denture, your natural teeth, or both. After receiving a partial denture, your dentist will probably schedule follow-up appointments to look for sore spots or pressure points and make any necessary adjustments.
If you don’t become entirely comfortable with your partial denture after four or six weeks, discuss the problem with your dentist, because an adjustment might be needed. A removable partial denture should not be used 24 hours a day. You’ll need to remove it to sleep.
Eating can become a lot easier when your missing teeth are replaced, but it may take several weeks before you are comfortable again while eating. The best strategy is to begin with soft food cut into small pieces. Try to keep the pressure on your teeth “even” and chew with both sides of your mouth. Also, avoid hard or excessively “sticky” food, and avoid chewing gum altogether. If you’ve had trouble speaking clearly, that trouble should fade away naturally after several weeks with a partial denture.
HOW ARE PARTIAL DENTURES CLEANED AND MAINTAINED?
A partial denture must be cleaned daily. Rinse off any food particles, put a dash of denture cleanser or mild liquid soap on a brush, and gently brush all of the denture surfaces. You can use a special brush made for dentures, but you can also use a soft-bristled toothbrush. Do not clean partial dentures with toothpaste. Some toothpastes include abrasive chemicals and additives that can damage the replacement teeth and/or the acrylic base.
A removable partial denture is a delicate item that breaks easily, so clean the denture over a folded towel in case you drop it. Your partial denture should be placed and kept in water or a denture soaking solution when not in use. A partial denture can lose its shape if it’s allowed to dry out. Rinse the partial denture thoroughly with water after cleaning it and before wearing it again, as some denture cleansers include chemicals that should not be consumed.
Keep brushing your natural teeth at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste, and floss at least once a day. Always keep your partial denture away from children and pets.
WHAT ABOUT FUTURE ADJUSTMENTS AND REPAIRS?
As you age, your jaw bone can shrink, and that shrinking can create a gap between your gum and your partial denture. The clasps on a partial denture can also become loosened over years of use. Don’t try to adjust or bend the partial denture yourself, and do not try to use glue or any other sealant that may include dangerous chemicals. Instead, see your dentist at once if the partial denture needs an adjustment or a repair.
If your partial denture chips, cracks, breaks, or if the teeth or clasps start coming loose, see your dentist as soon as possible. Your partial denture may also need an adjustment or a replacement if you lose one or more additional natural teeth. Some repairs are easy and quick – others may take longer or require a replacement of the partial denture. Don’t hesitate to contact your dentist about any problems, questions, or concerns you may have regarding your partial denture.
San Diego family dentist Jonathan Fung sums up the pros and cons of removable partial dentures: “I would say that partial dentures are a traditional and affordable way to replace missing teeth in the mouth when a patient still retains some of his/her teeth as opposed to missing all of his/her teeth which requires a full denture. The ‘pro’ of partial dentures is affordability and the ability to easily retrofit them to add additional missing teeth down the road.”
But Dr. Fung also adds: “There are several ‘cons’ of partial dentures. One is that partial dentures are removable and require a period for the body to adjust to functioning with them. Secondly, they may or may not be esthetically pleasing depending on the way the patient smiles. Lastly, they may require adjustments to be made on the existing natural teeth in order for them to seat securely in the patient’s mouth.”
If you are a young person or middle-aged, you should expect to replace a partial denture at least once or twice over the course of your lifetime, no matter how meticulously you clean and maintain the denture. Replacing a partial denture can cost a lot and will no doubt cost more in the years to come, so if you’ve lost one or more of your natural teeth, it is very much worth it to get a high-quality, affordable partial denture now.
