When Are Partial Dentures the Best Option for Your Missing Teeth?

When you lose a tooth, it can impact not only your smile but your ability to chew and to speak clearly. Now imagine those issues multiplied by the loss of additional teeth. What should you do? 

At the dental office of Sabrina E. Mickel DDS & Associates, we recommend replacements for missing teeth based on a range of variables. You might benefit from a partial denture or dental implants, depending on how many teeth you’ve lost and where in your mouth the gaps are located.  

In many cases, partial dentures are the fastest, easiest option. Here’s why.

Partial dentures 101

Partial dentures are exactly what they sound like; dentures to replace some, but not all teeth in an arch — as opposed to full dentures, which replace the entire upper or lower arch of teeth.  Most types of partial dentures are removable prosthetics that can replace more than one tooth in either your top or bottom arch. 

Both front (anterior) and back (posterior) teeth can be replaced with partial dentures. Research shows that patient satisfaction is high for people who choose partial dentures, especially if they replace missing anterior teeth. 

Just like traditional full dentures, partial dentures are made of materials that match the appearance of the inside of your mouth, with gum-colored bases and tooth-colored pontics (replacement teeth). They also require the same type of nightly cleaning. 

Candidates for partial dentures

If you’re only missing one tooth, a partial denture could work for you, but a dental implant might be better if the tooth loss is recent and you want to keep the jawbone alive with a titanium post that acts as a new tooth “root.” On the other hand, partial dentures can be a better choice if you:

• Have three or more missing teeth, especially in a row
• Aren’t a good candidate for implants
• Don’t want dental implant surgery 
• Still have plenty of remaining healthy, natural teeth

Dr. Mickel will consult with you about your preferences and goals so that she can help you decide if partial dentures are right for you.

Restoring your smile with partial dentures

Partial dentures fit snugly to your gum and are stabilized with small metal clasps that match with connectors on adjacent, or abutment, teeth. You’ll be able to eat, chew, and smile normally all day, then easily take your partial dentures out at night for cleaning and storage. 

If you’re unhappy with your smile due to missing teeth, make an appointment online today, or call us at 216-510-9974 to ask about partial dentures and book your consultation.