Are You A Candidate For Partial Dentures?

At some point in our lives, every one of us will eventually begin losing our teeth. It comes with aging, living, and the always-changing state of our oral health. Though dentures are often associated with seniors and grandparents, partial dentures aren’t. They’re worn by many individuals who might only be missing one tooth or a few.

As with any type of denture, acrylic partial dentures rely on the patient being a candidate. Unfortunately, not everyone is. If a denturist is going to create partial dentures for long-term function and aesthetics, they need the right support in the mouth to accomplish their job. Regarding any type of partial dentures, here is what we look for in a candidate.

Why Partial Dentures?

A removable partial denture can restore function and appearance missing teeth, with remaining healthy teeth acting as their support structure. There are acrylic partial dentures and metal partial dentures among other types, also known as cast partial dentures.

• Metal partial dentures are structurally superior, thinner, more hygienic, and are more comfortable.
• Acrylic partial dentures are less expensive and are often used as transitional or temporary dentures while a more long-term prosthetic is being crafted.

A denturist in Toronto such as Apple Denture Clinic will make every effort to provide a partial denture that adequately preserves the surrounding teeth and oral tissue. The design and alignment of a partial denture is key in this regard as a patient should have chewing forces distributed equally across their teeth.

Are You In An Advanced State of Tooth Loss?

Partial dentures are meant to address multiple missing teeth spread out across your arch. When several teeth are missing and they aren’t in a neat row, they can’t be fixed with a bridge.
Usually, patients like this are not ready for a full denture because they still have healthy teeth remaining. This is where a denture clinic in Scarborough or denturist would recommend partial dentures.

Are Your Teeth Strong Enough to Support Partial Dentures?

Metal partial dentures use clasps (wires) on each side to attach to your remaining natural teeth. The design relies on these attachments to support your partial dentures. Therefore, a denturist will assess a patient’s oral health and how strong the surrounding teeth are to determine if partial dentures are most appropriate or whether another prosthetic works better.

What Else Is There to Being A Candidate For Partial Dentures?

Assessing a patient’s candidacy for partial dentures, a denturist can identify other problematic issues that could be present. That said, we’ve already gone over the main points on what a candidate needs to have. It doesn’t take much! Here are some other partial denture recommendations and general information on them that you may want to know.

• A partial denture is a removable piece that is designed to be taken out and cleaned at the end of the day. Taking it out overnight will also give the underlying tissue rest and recovery time.

A partial denture typically requires 2-3 appointments to be made.

• The first appointment is to take an impression of your teeth. Your denturist will also record the color of the remaining teeth. This information is shared with our on-site lab.
• The second appointment is to try on your partial dentures and ensure they fit excellent. Evaluation on color-matching and tooth shape will also take place. Then partial dentures are going back to our lab for further processing and adjustment.
• The third and final appointment is to confirm everything’s aligned properly. Some patients with partial dentures may return in the following days or weeks to further adjust the prosthetic as it settles in.

Partial Dentures v. Implants or A Bridge

If you are only missing a couple of teeth on one side, you may be better off with an implant or bridge. A partial denture relies on other teeth for stability. Employing a metal partial denture is challenging in some cases and it might interfere with biting down especially if the occluding teeth are tight.

The best person to speak to about whether partial dentures are right for you is a denturist. Conducting a full assessment of your mouth, a denture clinic in Toronto can determine what’s possible and what isn’t. You may also want to consider the cost of partial dentures v. the cost of implant dentures or a bridge.

Why Partial Dentures Are Recommended

It is important to fill the space of missing teeth, even if it’s a single tooth. This is because your neighboring teeth will slowly drift into the open space, potentially causing issues down the road.

Partial dentures are very adaptable and are customized to the unique needs of the patient. Acrylic partial dentures will allow a patient to resume eating, laughing, and smiling like they normally would. Properly fit partial dentures also minimize the risks that come with misalignment of teeth, tooth decay, gum disease, TMJ disorder, and more.

Receive the best partial dentures from an experienced denturist in Toronto or Scarborough. Providing excellent denture care, emergency repair services, and more, schedule your initial consultation today at Apple Denture and Implant Solutions Clinic.