What Are Partial Dentures?

As you know, dentures (false teeth) are for people when they have all their teeth pulled. They are the replacements for missing teeth. Well, sometimes people still have some good teeth and choose to keep them. They need dentures to be able to eat properly, but some of their natural teeth remain. As a matter of fact, with partial dentures, they sometimes attach to the natural teeth to hold them in place.

Actually, there are two types of partial dentures. The kind that is removable like complete dentures, and partial dentures that are permanently attached inside the mouth. That’s a dental implant bridge. Either the artificial teeth are attached with a dental crown or they might be placed under the gum tissue with implants.

Dentures are unique because they are made for your mouth only. After your teeth are pulled, the gum tissue heals and changes shape. The hole is filled in with bone. It takes 2 to 3 months for this process to happen. The dentist will make a mold of your gums that will help the dentures fit properly. You will want a snug fit on the gum tissue and bone.

There are several reasons that someone would choose to get partial dentures. For starters, they are more affordable than complete dentures. They ease the stress of your jaw, keep your natural teeth from shifting in your mouth, maintain the shape of your face and they make it so much easier to talk and chew.

It’s not a good idea to sleep with your dentures in after the first week. You’ll want to keep them in around the clock for the first few days or so to get an idea of where they need to be adjusted. After that, let your mouth and bones relax while you sleep. Remove the dentures, clean them and put them in a denture safe solution. They will be clean and ready for you in the morning.

For the first few weeks, your mouth will be sore. It’s like being a baby again, you have to practice talking and chewing. 

It’s going to feel kind of funny for a while till you get used to eating with your dentures. You shouldn’t chew gum or eat really hard or sticky foods. It’ll stick to the dentures and they could possibly break.

Your cheek muscles and tongue have to get used to your partial dentures. It would probably be a good idea to use some denture adhesive to keep them in place.

Dentures can break really easy. When removing them, you should stand over a water-filled sink in case you drop them, they will float instead of break.

Even partial dentures are expensive, so you should show pride in your investment. Make sure they fit well and that you take good care of them. There are many denture misconceptions, read more to learn more.