Any time a patient visits us with missing teeth, our first priority is to save the remaining natural teeth. Extracting healthy teeth is almost never the right answer, especially not when there are so many ways to keep them healthy. One of the ways that we work to prevent decay and movement of healthy teeth when others are missing, is to create partial dentures. These keep the neighboring teeth in place and fill in the gaps in your smile.
What Is a Partial Denture?
Partial dentures are a free-standing tooth, or several teeth, that are worn just like a complete denture. The adhesive is often used to keep the denture in place, but otherwise, the piece is simply held in place by the neighboring teeth. Unlike dental bridges, no hardware is used to anchor the partial denture into place.
Modern dentures look just like natural teeth and are created to match your smile exactly. No one will need to know that you are wearing a denture at all.
Partial Dentures vs. Bridges
Not all patients are good candidates for dental bridges. There may be a lack of tooth matter on the neighboring tooth to support the hardware, or there may be another issue that causes bridges to be inadvisable. In those cases, partial dentures are the best alternative.
Why Replace Lost Teeth?
If you lost a tooth in the back, where it can’t be seen, you may be wondering why you should bother replacing it. The fact is that lost teeth can lead to reduced bone mass in the jaw, and poor oral health, which can affect the state of your whole mouth. That can then affect your overall health. Replacing lost teeth is an important part of protecting your health.
Time to Discuss Partial Dentures?
If you are ready to replace a missing tooth, contact our office at Dental Care of Plano to learn more.
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