Partial Dentures

About Partial Dentures

What are Partial dentures?

Removable Partial Dentures

Removable Partial Dentures are for patients who are missing some of their teeth on a particular arch.

Fixed Partial Dentures

Fixed Partial Dentures, also known as “crown and bridge” dentures, are made from crowns that are fitted on the remaining teeth.

They act as abutments and pontics and are made from materials resembling the missing teeth.

Fixed bridges are more expensive than removable appliances but are more stable.

What do Partial Dentures look like?

There are three basic types of partial dentures:

1. The first is a cast removable partial denture, or “cast partial”, and consists of a metal base
2. Acrylic teeth attached to it
3. Metal clasps are the hook-like structures that help hold the removable partial denture in place

What are Partial Dentures made of?

A partial denture is a removable, yet natural-looking dental appliance that helps restore the form and function of your jaw by replacing one or several missing teeth.

Partial dentures are made from a combination of metal and acrylic – which gives them the strength to handle your needs for chewing and speaking, while also looking natural.

Some partial dentures are entirely made from acrylic – these dentures tend to be less durable and structurally sound, but may be a solution for you depending on your situation.

How much Partial Dentures cost?

It is hard to say exactly how much a partial denture will cost you, because there are so many variables that influence the price.

The only way to get an exact quote is to see the dentist and have them draw up a treatment plan for your mouth. The variables that will affect the price are discussed below.

Partial dentures involve a number of laboratory stages for which the dentist is charged, this may include special trays, bit blocks, try-ins, re-setting the bite etc.

So if the price of a denture seems quite high (and it is), it is because of the laboratory costs ($400-500 for a Cobalt chrome denture-base) which the Prosthetist must factor in to the overall price.

How do Partial Dentures work?

The design of the partial denture framework should be systematically developed and outlined on an accurate diagnostic cast. This diagnostic is based on the following prosthesis concepts:

• where the prosthesis is supported,
• how the support is connected,
• how the prosthesis is retained,
• how the retention and support are connected,
• and how edentulous base support is connected.

In developing the design, it’s first necessary to determine how the partial denture is to be supported.

In an entirely tooth-supported partial denture, the most ideal location for the support units (rests) is on prepared rest seats on the occlusal, cingulum, or incisal surface of the abutment adjacent to each edentulous space.

In a tooth and tissue–supported partial denture, attention to these same considerations must be given to the abutment teeth.

Denture base areas adjacent to abutment teeth are primarily tooth supported. As one proceeds away from the abutment teeth, they become more tissue supported.

Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate characteristics in the partial denture design that will distribute the functional load equitably between the abutment teeth and the supporting tissues of the edentulous ridge.

How should Partial Dentures fit?

They should fit snuggly against the oral mucosa and the existing dentition as to prevent any torqueing movement. Movement will render the denture unfit for purpose.

The fit should be so that once in position the denture fulfils the cosmetic and aesthetic function as prescribed in the treatment plan.

Will Partial Dentures affect my speech?

Dentures may affect your speech, but the effect may be an improvement.

For those new to wearing dentures, pronouncing certain words may require practice. Reading out loud and repeating troublesome words will help.

If your dentures “click” while you’re talking, speak more slowly.

Can a Partial Denture be repaired?

Partial Dentures by their very nature are fragile objects when not in their designed environment and are prone to breakages from time to time.

Ant breakage requiring a repair should be directed to a registered health professional for attention and remediation.

Which is better Partial Denture or Bridge?

A bridge is the better option as it is fixed and becomes a permanent fixture of the mouth as the Partial Denture is removable and is subject to stresses that the bridge is not.

That being, clasps tend to be fragile and susceptible to breakage if not cared for correctly.

Where to get a Partial Denture?

You can get a Partial Denture from a registered Dental Practitioner who is versed in the correct procedure of the Dental discipline.

Partial Denture for one tooth?

A flipper tooth is a temporary partial denture you can get through your dentist. It’s made by first taking an impression of your mouth with a soft material.

The flipper tooth is made from acrylic dental-grade resin. If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be considering prosthetics.

Partial Denture for front tooth?

A one tooth flipper is a temporary partial denture you can get through your dentist.

It’s made by first taking an impression of your mouth with a soft material. The flipper tooth is made from acrylic dental-grade resin. If you’re missing one or more teeth, you may be considering prosthetics.

Partial Denture for back teeth?

You can replace several back teeth with a partial denture in full confidence. It will remain firmly in place. Though some claim dental implant restored teeth are more stable, you cannot beat the economics of partial dentures.

Comparisons

Partial Denture vs Bridge

Another difference is that partial dentures usually include both artificial gums made from pink acrylic into which false teeth are mounted.

Bridges are just the teeth. A partial denture is attached in your mouth using clasps or precision attachments that clip on to your natural teeth.

Partial Denture vs Implant

Dental implants are actually surgically implanted where your missing tooth used to be.

This means that your implant will look and feel completely natural. On the other hand, partial dentures are usually secured to the surrounding teeth.

They tend to shift and move, and they won’t always look or feel completely natural.

Partial Denture vs Full Denture

There is really no comparison as they do the job described as per the individual client’s bespoke needs and requirements.

Sometimes a full denture will be required as the existing Partial Denture exists in an oral environment that requires removal of standing dentition, to facilitate a higher standard of oral health.

Partial Denture cost?

Partial and complete traditional dentures tend to fall in the same price range starting at about $800. The more you spend, the more comfortable and better looking your dentures will be.

The price ranges up to $5,000 for well-fitted dentures.

Partial Denture design?

The traditional way of replacing a missing tooth has long been a denture which can be satisfactory in most respects.

But this solution suffers from problems relating to damage it may cause in the long term to the natural teeth and gums. It inevitably exerts pressure on both during use and can tend to cause loss of gum tissue and even loosening of teeth.

The ideal denture design is one that minimizes this risk to the natural teeth and gums, takes up little space in the mouth, yet is held firmly in place.

It is difficult to make the perfect denture, but intelligent design helps to provide a denture that is satisfactory in terms of function and aesthetics and doesn’t compromise the oral tissues’ health.

A denture is generally made either as a plastic plate or a metal framework supporting plastic teeth, although porcelain teeth may occasionally be used.

If plastic it rests mostly on the soft tissues of the mouth, and then forces generated when chewing tend to push the plate into the gums to a degree, with the result that the gums can be forced away from the edges of the teeth where they rest up against them.

This “gum stripping” is a major concern with plastic dentures and it is therefore necessary to go to a lot of trouble to ensure that the plate rests against as few gingival margins of teeth as possible.

This can cause problems in retention of the plate so a compromise may have to be sought.

A metal denture is better since the design can be a “skeleton” framework of connecting narrow bars which take up much less space and can be made to be supported by the teeth to a large degree.

This is achieved by the use of small metal tags or “rests” which fit on to the biting surface of some of the back teeth or the palatal aspect of canines specially prepared to receive them without interfering with the bite.

Leaving most of the palate uncovered is healthier for it than having it hidden underneath a plate, and it also helps preserve the sense of taste since some taste buds are situated in the palate.

A partial denture is best made in chrome cobalt alloy which is both light and strong, and doesn’t deteriorate in the mouth due to contact with oral saliva or food or drinks.

The denture is actually constructed in a dental laboratory with a custom design for each case which is decided by the dentist who needs to give clear and comprehensive information and instructions to the dental technician.

In designing a partial denture, it is customary to use diagrams to illustrate the various features and their position and inter-relationship. This can be done on a paper diagrammatic representation of the dental arches or on a computer.

The design begins with an assessment of the teeth missing and their position. These areas of missing teeth are termed “saddles” and may be bounded by a tooth at either end, or in some cases may be free ended where there is no standing posterior tooth.

If there are more than one saddle area then they need to be joined by a connector, and the nature of this will depend on whether it’s an upper or lower denture being provided.

Other important parts are occlusal rests to enable the denture to be largely borne by the teeth wherever possible, and clasps plus reciprocals that fit around some of the natural teeth to gain retention.

Clasps are usually placed in the region nearest the saddle areas for maximum benefit, and require an opposite reciprocal support to be effective. The reciprocal element may come from the plate or from a cast “arm” similar to a clasp but wider and not set into an undercut.

The clasps are set slightly into undercuts in order to get grip and since chrome cobalt is relatively inflexible the teeth need to be accurately surveyed in order to make best use of undercuts.

Undercuts that are too pronounced would not allow a denture to be put in or taken out of the mouth because of inadequate “give” in the clasps. Clasps may be either gingivally or occlusally approaching and are usually placed so that they are out of view in order to make the denture satisfactory aesthetically.

A denture that is too obvious is likely not to be worn at all by the patient.
Thus, the design of a partial denture can be complex since it has to take into account of several factors, some of which can be conflicting.

It is sometimes difficult, for example, to make an upper denture adequately retentive where there are few remaining natural teeth, without clasps showing in the anterior region.

However, usually a compromise can be made, and a satisfactory denture provided that takes up the minimum space in the mouth and is supported as far as possible by the hard tissues.

A chrome cobalt partial denture will last for several years, although there may be some shrinkage of gum and bone tissue in the saddle areas due to resorption over time which may necessitate a reline of the plastic parts that fit against the gums, and this is fairly easy to do.

Partial Denture Breaking?

Partial dentures need to be cleaned every day to remove plaque and food particles. That cleaning must be done carefully because dentures are fragile.

If you drop your dentures or handle them too roughly, the metal framework could become bent. The dentures’ replacement teeth could become chipped, cracked or broken.

If your dentures get damaged, don’t try to fix them by yourself. The (ADPA) warns that DIY denture repair can cause further damage and even ruin the dentures.

At-home repairs can also be hazardous to your health.

Over-the-counter glues may contain dangerous chemicals that shouldn’t be used on dentures, the ADPA cautions. If your dentures become damaged, visit your Prosthetist right away.