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Conventional Removable Partial Dentures

A partial denture is useful for a person missing some teeth, but who still has a number of natural teeth.

This device also is called a removable prosthesis, and is a means by which artificial replacement teeth are held in the mouth. The prosthesis commonly is kept in place by means of clasps. These are thin finger-like structures, usually made of a special resilient metal alloy or sometimes plastic, that rest upon and wrap around some remaining natural teeth. Clasps keep the prosthesis securely in place, but still allow a person to easily take it out for regular cleaning and proper brushing of remaining natural teeth.

Some Reasons for Having Partial Dentures Made

• Replace missing teeth
• Improve ability to chew more naturally
• Chew food with confidence
• Make it possible to eat certain favorite foods
• Maintain a healthier and socially acceptable mouth
• Aid in the preservation of remaining natural teeth
• Help prevent or treat problems of the TMJ (the jaw joint)
• Often improve speech
• Help develop a more pleasing and confident smile
• Support the face -- often with a more youthful appearance
• Enhance self esteem
• Replace missing teeth in an economical way
• Add an additional tooth to an existing partial denture if a natural tooth is lost
• In most cases, crowning teeth is not necessary to fit a partial denture
• Partial dentures are usually easy to repair if they are broken

Esthetics and the Conventional Partial Denture

Generally, clasp design is reasonably esthetic, and often it is possible for them not to be seen. However, depending upon partial denture design, which is based on mouth conditions, there may be some show of clasps. Often, this is not an appearance problem. However, if avoiding an unacceptable show of clasps would compromise optimal partial denture design, various special attachments sometimes may be employed to do away with conventional clasps. These attachments are more technically complex and often are referred to as precision or semi-precision attachments.

How Long Will a Partial Denture Last?

Accidents happen, and the mouth is constantly changing. Partial dentures may no longer fit properly, can break or bend, or simply wear out. In fact, there is nothing made for the mouth that is permanent. Fractured clasps and so forth often may be repaired.

On average, a partial denture may be expected to last about five years. Depending upon circumstances, certain removable prostheses can last a shorter or longer time.

How Often Should a Partial Denture Be Checked?

It is best to have a partial denture, as well as the rest of the mouth, checked at six-month intervals. If left uncorrected, small problems can develop into major ones, which could cause disease, loss of teeth, or necessitate premature prosthesis replacement.

Partial Dentures Need to Be Relined

The jaw ridge that a partial denture rests upon is constantly changing. It is normal and necessary to regularly modify how a partial denture contacts the ridge. This maintenance correction is called relining, and on average, needs to be performed annually for optimal function. However, this is dependent upon how an individual's mouth changes. A licensed dentist can best advise when a reline is needed, and when a reline will no longer adequately restore proper function.

by Joseph J. Massad, D.D.S.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

False Teeth: Porcelain vs. Plastic - Discover The Difference!

In the past, false teeth made with porcelain were generally preferred over false teeth made from plastic due to their greater durability and esthetics. However, in recent years, new generation biomaterials have resulted in the development of very wear-resistant false teeth made from plastic.

Clinically, the esthetics of plastic and porcelain denture teeth is nearly comparable, with good quality false teeth made from porcelain still being the standard for esthetics. However, the majority of dentures today probably are fabricated with false teeth made from plastic. For all practical purposes, the cost of porcelain and false teeth made from plastic are about the same.

While porcelain and plastic teeth are competitive with regards to durability, and to a lesser extent, esthetics and wear, there are other factors that may favor the selection of one type of tooth over another.

Some Selection Factors for False Teeth

Balanced bite and force transmission:

Denture bite (called occlusion) changes due to the constantly changing jawbone (called alveolar bone) upon which a denture rests, and, to varying degrees, uneven tooth wear resulting from use. Unless a denture is evaluated and its occlusion adjusted to a uniform and even contact (called balanced bite or balanced occlusion) at regular intervals, denture occlusion will become unbalanced.

Since false teeth made from porcelain are more wear-resistant, their occlusion will not become significantly self-altered by wear, as will false teeth made from plastic. However, when alveolar bone changes cause an unbalanced occlusion, the resulting biting forces from false teeth made from porcelain will be unevenly transmitted to underlying supporting alveolar bone. Frequent tissue refitting of the denture usually eliminates or lessens this problem.

Porcelain denture teeth tend to transmit the impact of biting forces to the alveolar ridge with greater intensity than that transmitted by plastic teeth in an unbalanced tooth contact situation. Some practitioners are of the opinion that this greater force, especially when uneven as in an unbalanced occlusion, may be damaging to the alveolar ridges and could result in accelerated bone loss.

Therefore, unless denture occlusion is checked and balanced on a regular basis, false teeth made from plastic would probably be a preferred choice over false teeth made from porcelain.

Bone loss:

If a person has lost a great deal of supporting alveolar bone and their gum tissue is not of a sturdy type, then plastic denture teeth might be a better choice. These teeth are more forgiving of excessive forces developing from habits such as clenching, grinding, and tapping or "clacking" of teeth, which seems to be more prevalent among older individuals. Plastic teeth do not transmit forces to underlying bone as intensely as false teeth made from porcelain.

Noise:

If false teeth made from porcelain are vigorously used or sometimes habitually tapped together, a "clacking" sound can be heard. Plastic teeth will muffle this sound and be quiet during normal function or habit jaw motions (called parafunction).

Which Type of Tooth Is Best?

If a person has been successfully wearing dentures with false teeth made from porcelain, then they should probably continue with false teeth made from porcelain. These teeth will not wear as fast as false teeth made from plastic, and the relationship between upper and lower jaws will tend to stay normal for a longer time than with false teeth made from plastic.

Regardless of which type of tooth is selected, the success of the selection is strongly based upon regularly checking dentures for proper balanced occlusion and fit on regular intervals.

If a denture is going to be worn against opposing natural teeth, then false teeth made from plastic should be selected because false teeth made from porcelain, being harder, could excessively wear natural teeth away.

After a thorough examination and frank discussion of what a person wants from wearing a denture, a licensed dentist can effectively discuss which type of tooth would best meet a particular individual's unique needs and desires.

Tooth Strength

Because false teeth made from porcelain are extremely hard in comparison to false teeth made from plastic, they tend to chip and crack more easily. For this reason, when dentures having false teeth made from porcelain are brushed and cleaned, they are generally handled over a sink filled with water or over a towel. Should the denture accidentally fall, the water or towel would help break the fall and hopefully reduce tooth breakage.

by Joseph J. Massad, D.D.S.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.