Partial Dentures
If you have missing teeth, a removable partial denture is one way to replace them.
These are a few of the advantages of a removable partial denture:
- It can be easier for you to chew food.
- You can speak better if your speech has changed due to missing teeth.
- Your cheeks and lips will be supported so your face does not sag and make you look older.
Other reasons to replace missing teeth
When you loss a tooth, the nearby teeth may tilt or drift into the empty space. The teeth in our other jaw may also shift into the space. This can affect your bite and place more stress and wear on your teeth and jaws. You may find it harder to clean teeth that have shifted, which can lead to tooth decay and gum disease. This is why it’s important to replace missing teeth.
How partial dentures work
A removable partial denture usually has replacement teeth attached to a metal or acrylic (plastic) base that matches the color of your gums. Partial dentures often have some form of clasp that attaches to your natural teeth and can easily be taken out of your mouth for cleaning or storing while you sleep.
Your dentist may also recommend crowns, or “caps,” on your natural teeth to improve the way a removable partial denture fits our mouth.