What You Should Know About Partial Dentures
Partial dentures can replace a few lost teeth but not a whole set of teeth on the upper or lower jaw. You must have some healthy teeth in both the top and bottom regions of your mouth to acquire partial dentures.
This page discusses partial dentures, including their kinds, pricing, and materials of construction. If you've lost teeth, consult a dentist to determine if partial dentures are a good option for you.
What are partial dentures, and how do you get them?
Partial dentures are removable dentures that are used to replace numerous teeth in the upper or lower jaw.
Partial dentures are more than just a fashion statement. They can also help the wearer chew and talk more clearly. Partial dentures can also keep the position of your remaining teeth in your mouth from shifting over time.
Partial dentures aren't normally designed to be worn all day. Most dentists would advise you to take your partial dentures off at night and clean them.
Cleaning partial dentures not only keeps them clean, but it also minimizes the likelihood of cavities forming in neighboring healthy teeth since you can brush around them correctly, according to a 2017 scientific review.
Partial dentures are a less common alternative because to their detachable nature, as well as concerns about look and fit.
According to the same study, 5 years after dentists made detachable partial dentures for patients, an estimated 39% of them were no longer in use.
What are the benefits of partial dentures?
If you've lost many teeth on the top or bottom of your jaw, partial dentures may be beneficial. The following are some of the causes that contribute to tooth loss:
- a tooth extraction or a tooth extraction
- a tooth extraction or a tooth extraction a tooth
Whatever the case may be, it's critical that your remaining teeth remain in good shape. The partial dentures will be made by a dentist using your remaining teeth as a guide. If your teeth are unhealthy, a dentist may advise you to have them extracted and replace them with complete dentures.
What are the different forms of partial dentures?
There are several partial denture choices available due to various production procedures and materials. The following are some things to think about when it comes to partial denture kinds.
Your mouth's location
Partial dentures can replace either the front (anterior) or rear (posterior) half of your teeth.
People with anterior partial dentures reported the highest degree of satisfaction in a 2017 survey.
According to the researchers in the study, the high degree of happiness might be due to the fact that dentures made the most aesthetic impact in people's smiles. However, partial dentures can assist patients bite into foods more readily by replacing the front teeth.
Furthermore, posterior dentures can help with speaking and eating, increasing enjoyment.
Dentures have a certain number of teeth on them
When it comes to replacing lost teeth, partial dentures aren't the only choice. Full dentures, which replace a whole set of lost upper or lower teeth, are another option. If you still have teeth, your dentist will have to extract them before you may have complete dentures.
Another sort of tooth replacement is a bridge. Because they merely replace a few lost teeth, they're similar to partial dentures.
Bridges, on the other hand, are normally only on one side of the mouth, although partial dentures can replace teeth on both sides. In addition, bridges are usually permanently cemented in place, although partial dentures are frequently detachable.
When you have three or more missing teeth that are close together, a dentist will usually prescribe partial dentures.
Durability
Permanent partial dentures are not usually recommended by dentists. Instead, you might be able to use a temporary solution. When your dentist extracts broken or decayed teeth that your partial dentures will replace, this is frequently the case.
After an extraction, your gums require time to recover (typically approximately 6 months), according to the Oral Health Foundation. Your dentist will be able to create permanent partial dentures when this period has passed.
Materials that were utilized
A dentist can use either plastic (resin) or metal, such as a cobalt-chromium alloy, for the basis of the dentures.
Titanium may be used by metal dentists to create bigger partial dentures. In a 2017 assessment, however, titanium was found to induce inflammatory responses in around 0.6 percent of persons.
Polymers and plastics
The Oral Health Foundation also points out that plastic bases are generally less costly than metal bases. This is due to the fact that metal bases are lighter and more robust than their plastic counterparts.
Plastic or polymer-based dentures, on the other hand, provide a number of benefits, including:
- because no metal is exposed, it has a pleasing aesthetic aspect
- simple to build and maintain
- flexible and light-weight
Dentures that are flexible
Some people choose for "flexible" dentures as an alternative to partial dentures. These dentures have no visible metal clips and are comprised of thin, lightweight thermoplastics.
Flexible dentures, on the other hand, are often bulkier than metal dentures because they can shatter if constructed too thinly, according to a 2014 study review.
You'll also insert flexible dentures in a different way than other sorts. Dentures made of metal or plastic are usually put directly into your mouth.
Flexible dentures are normally warmed in water for a minute before being worn to assist the dentures conform to your gums better.
Attachments
Dentists commonly use clasps or precise attachments to secure partial dentures.
Clasps on partial dentures are normally composed of metal and will surround at least half of your adjacent teeth. When you grin, the metal may be seen depending on where the clasps are set.
Existing teeth or dental implants will be attached using precision attachments. Dentists will create specific attachments for each patient, like as crowns to cover existing teeth.
The extra labor necessary in making the attachments means they normally cost more than clasp attachments, according to the American Dental Association.
What are the costs of partial dentures?
The cost of partial dentures varies depending on a variety of factors, including:
Dentures are made from a variety of materials and are made in a variety of ways depending on the number of teeth that are replaced and where they are put in your mouth.
You may also require dental treatment prior to obtaining your partial dentures, as well as denture modifications thereafter.
The American Dental Association's national fee study from 2016 gives typical partial denture expenses as follows:
- upper partial dentures with a resin foundation are $1,215, while those with a cast metal base and resin saddles are $1,685
- $1,444 for upper flexible dentures
Dentures are expensive
If you have dental insurance, a portion of your partial denture costs may be covered.
For restorative therapies, consult your insurance's "Explanation of Benefits." Depending on the plan, some insurance providers will cover a fixed amount or 50% of your denture costs.
Partially dentures are usually not covered by Medicare. Some Medicare Advantage plans, on the other hand, provide dental services that may assist cover at least a portion of the cost of your partial dentures.
Some partial denture costs may be covered by Medicaid, however eligibility varies from state to state.
Asking your doctor whether payment plans are available or locating a nearby dental school that offers reduced dentures are two more methods to get financial aid or make paying for partial dentures easier.
What factors should I consider when selecting partial dentures?
Your partial dentures will be made by a normal dentist or a prosthodontist (a dentist who specializes in manufacturing dentures). They consider a number of things when doing so, including:
- your remaining teeth and how they fit together
- your cosmetic goals anatomy of your mouth, including your hard and soft palate your remaining teeth and how they fit together
Ask yourself the following questions while deciding on the sort of partial dentures you want:
- What allergies do I suffer from? Flexible dentures may be required for people who are allergic to metal or acrylic.
- Do I worry if my partial dentures have metal clips on them? This issue may be less essential if your lost teeth are towards the rear of your mouth. You could select acrylic or precise attachments for your front teeth.
- What is the maximum amount I may spend for partial dentures? Dentures that satisfy your demands but don't break the wallet are a crucial consideration.
Your dentist or prosthodontist can also assist you in selecting the ideal partial dentures for your needs.