Partial denture. What a scary phrase. It has the word DENTURE in it! A partial denture is that thing your Aunt Ruth wore after she lost some of her teeth, but not all of them. (I used to wonder what Aunt Ruth ever did to get Uncle Max so angry that he punched her hard enough to loosen so many teeth!)
Anyway, Partial Dentures have been used for more than 100 years, and they are still used when there are several or many missing teeth, usually in different areas of one jaw. Most often, a metal framework is made with wires that hold onto the remaining teeth. Then manufactured teeth are placed into pink acrylic, all of which is then processed onto the metal framework. This relatively large appliance is custom-made to fit one jaw, replacing all the missing teeth and gums, all at once. The problem with Partials is that they are difficult to clean well. So most people don’t clean them well. And the food particles and plaque that remain on the insides of the Partial eventually irritate the gums and cause the teeth to decay and/or become loose, painful, or break.
This is why I rarely recommend Partial Dentures to my patients. Even though implants or cemented bridgework is somewhat more expensive for our patients, the results are far superior, more comfortable, and longer lasting.
If you have missing teeth and you want them replaced, and you live in the Fort Lauderdale, Sunrise, Tamarac or Plantation areas, call Nob Hill Dental Center. Make an appointment for a visit. I think you’ll like your experience and your results.