How Many Teeth Do You Need for a Partial Denture?
Replacing several missing teeth with partial dentures is comfortable, but not all your upper or lower teeth. Therefore, if you intend to receive partial dentures, you must have some healthy natural teeth remaining in the upper or lower jaw.
This post provides information about partial dentures, including the types and materials that help make them. If you are a casualty of tooth loss, discuss with your dentist whether partial dentures suit your needs.
Partial Dentures Explained
Partial dentures are removable dental prosthetics that help replace several teeth in the upper or lower jaw. Dental prosthetics are not just cosmetic enhancements because they can also improve your speech and chewing. In addition, partial dentures prevent your remaining teeth from drifting towards the edentulous gaps to create a misalignment in the mouth. They also avoid the consequences of tooth loss that undoubtedly affect you if you decide to leave the vacant gaps without getting tooth replacement solutions.
Why Do You Need Partial Dentures?
You might benefit from partial dentures after losing multiple teeth in the top or bottom jaw. The reasons for the loss of teeth can range from injuries, extraction, and decay. Whatever the reason, you must ensure your remaining teeth are not compromised because of your situation. The dentist in Phoenix will customize your partials after looking at your remaining teeth. Unfortunately, if the health of your remaining teeth is compromised, the dentist recommends extracting them to have complete dentures instead.
Can You Sleep with Partial Dentures?
Partials are not intended to remain in the mouth throughout the day and night. The dentist near you recommends removing the prosthetics at night for cleaning. Research from 2017 confirms that cleaning partials do not merely help them remain clean but also reduces the chances of developing cavities in the neighboring teeth and enable you to clean around them correctly. The removable feature of partials, besides concerns about their fit, makes them a less popular option. Partials last you for approximately five years after you decide to have them as replacements for your missing teeth.
Do Dentures Change Your Face?
We mentioned earlier that partials prevent the consequences of tooth loss from affecting you and help avoid jawbone resorption responsible for changing your facial appearance. Loss of teeth is generally accountable for jawbone deterioration which starts soon after losing teeth to injuries or removal. If you get the partials as quickly as possible after losing teeth, the prosthetic prevents jawbone resorption to help ensure the loss of teeth doesn’t impact the shape of your face.
Number of Teeth on Partials
Partials or not the only solution for replacing missing teeth. You can also have complete dentures to replace an entire arch of teeth in the top or bottom jaw. However, if you have natural teeth remaining in your jaw, the dentist might remove them before you get complete dentures.
Bridges are an alternative option for replacing missing teeth. They are also similar to partials because they help replace merely a few missing teeth. However, bridges are generally placed on one side of your mouth, while partials can replace teeth on both sides. In addition, bridges are fixed in the mouth while partials are removable.
Generally, dentists recommend partials if you have three or more missing teeth consecutively next to each other.
Durability
Dentists do not provide partials as permanent prosthetics for loss of teeth. You might have to wear a temporary solution after your dentist extracts the damaged or decaying teeth to help you replace them with partials. The oral health foundation mentioned that your gums need approximately six months to heal, sufficient for the dentist to fabricate your partials.
Materials That Help Make Partials
Dentists use plastic resin or metals for the base of your partials. However, plastic or polymer-based partials are also beneficial because they have a desirable aesthetic appearance and do not make any metal visible. In addition, there are easy to fabricate and repair while remaining light and flexible.
Partials are fitted into your mouth by dentists using precision attachments or clasps. Although precision attachments are more expensive because of the additional involved in crafting them, they attach to existing teeth, and dentists customize them to suit your needs.
Choosing a Suitable Option for Your Missing Teeth
A general dentist or a prosthodontist specializing in making dentures can fabricate your partials. When doing so, they will consider many factors like the anatomy of your mouth to the soft and hard palate, the remaining teeth and their fitting, and your aesthetic preferences. Your dentist or the specialist can help you make a suitable choice when matters related to the best partials you need are concerned.
If you have lost a few teeth in the top or bottom jaw, you find it beneficial to arrange a meeting with All Smile Dental Care to discuss getting partials to replace them if they are suitable for your needs. The practice will help you determine the dental prosthetics best suited for your needs and provide them by fabricating them to suit your smile.