Are you missing some, but not all, of your natural teeth? A partial denture may be a good fit for you. Partial dentures may be used when the remaining natural teeth are not strong enough to support a bridge or there are too few natural teeth remaining. Partial dentures replace one or more missing natural teeth restoring appearance, preventing remaining teeth from shifting, and improving chewing and speaking ability. A partial denture is a removable prosthesis made to fit on at least one or more remaining natural teeth in the mouth. The replacement teeth on the partial denture are attached to a framework holding the denture in place in the mouth. There are two types of partial dentures: temporary acrylic and cast partial dentures.

Temporary Acrylic Partial Dentures:

Temporary acrylic partial dentures act as immediate partial dentures by temporarily and immediately replacing one or more natural teeth after extraction when at least one or more natural teeth remains in the arch with the teeth to be replaced. The temporary acrylic partials are fabricated prior to extraction. Impressions and measurements are taken and models are fabricated with existing natural teeth to be extracted as well as those that are to remain in the oral cavity. Temporary acrylic partial dentures are then fabricated based off the impressions and measurements taken, but, are unable to be tried in prior to extractions to make any adjustments because the natural teeth to be extracted are in the way. Therefore, it is difficult to have the denture turn out exactly as desired by the patient. This means that the first time the patient can see the finished denture is after the teeth have been pulled and the dentist immediately places the denture in the mouth.

Sometimes the immediate denture will look and function great while other times the bite and appearance may be off. At this point of placement changes are unable to be made on the temporary acrylic partial denture in regards to the bite and or the appearance. This is one of the reasons acrylic partial dentures are considered to be temporary prostheses and a cast partial denture will be required once healing occurs. Cast partial dentures are designed out of much stronger material, are more self cleansing, and cause less gingival stripping therefore they are a better long term solution. Keep in mind, however, that although the extraction sites have healed the soft and hard tissues will continue to shrink once the teeth are removed affecting the ongoing fit of the cast partial denture. Therefore, it is important that with any type of prosthesis fabricated regular checkups are completed to check for fit of the removable prosthesis so that relines or new prostheses can be made as fit changes.

… it is important that with any type of prosthesis fabricated regular checkups are completed …

Temporary acrylic partial dentures provide the patient with false teeth the same day their natural teeth are extracted so they do not have to go a day with missing teeth and they also act as a compression bandage to aid healing. However, they are difficult to predict the outcome of without having a try in appointment and they require many ongoing adjustments as the soft and hard tissues continue to heal and shrink after extractions. The healing and initial bone shrinkage takes around six to twelve months. Within this time there will be a lot of back and forth adjustment appointments to try and get the best fit out of the immediate denture as possible which will include temporary relines and tissue conditioners to help ease the transition of surgery to dentures. Once the initial bone shrinkage occurs (approximately six to twelve months after extractions) a cast partial denture will be fabricated.

Cast Partial Dentures:

Cast partial dentures are removable prostheses used when some natural teeth remain and some are extracted in an arch. Cast partial dentures are fabricated and inserted into the mouth well after any extractions have occurred, thus, allowing the soft and hard tissues healing time around the extraction sites. The healing and initial bone shrinkage takes approximately six to twelve months. Keep in mind, however, that although the extraction sites have healed the soft and hard tissues will continue to shrink once the teeth are removed affecting the ongoing fit of the prosthesis. Therefore, it is important that with any type of prosthesis fabricated regular checkups are completed to check for fit of the removable prosthesis so that relines or new prostheses can be made as fit changes. Cast partial dentures have false teeth held in place by clasps which fit onto nearby natural teeth.