Restorative dentistry 101: A guide to partial dentures

People lose teeth for many reasons – decay and injury, to name a few. The good news is you don’t have to live with your missing teeth anymore. There are some amazing treatments in cosmetic dentistry that can help, and dentures are one of them. If you are missing just a few of your teeth, you can consider partial dentures. Visit a Phoenix partial dentures clinic, and you can ask the dentist if that’s an option for you. Below are some key things worth knowing.

What is a denture?

A denture is a special and customized dental appliance that is used to replace missing teeth. Dentures are designed to match your natural teeth and can be one of the most affordable and effective ways to enhance your smile. Dentures can be classified into two categories – partial and complete. Complete dentures are used to replace when one is missing all teeth from an arc, while partial dentures are used when some natural teeth are in place. A partial denture fills the gaps and prevents the remaining natural teeth from shifting.

As far as complete dentures are concerned, you can get conventional or immediate. Immediate dentures are ordered from the lab in advance, and you can wear them immediately after your natural teeth have been removed. Conventual dentures are ordered later from the lab, so you will have to wait a few weeks to get them.

Should you consider partial dentures?

Yes, absolutely. Partial dentures are a great way to restore your smile and enjoy better comfort when eating and speaking. You can also expect the dentures to fill up your cheeks, and therefore, your face will look fuller. For many people, missing one or two teeth is an aesthetic concern, and partial dentures can help fix those aspects.

What is the procedure like?

You may have to go to several appointments and see the dentist to get your dentures. The dentist will take impressions of your teeth and will send the same to the lab to order new dentures. They will also check the shape, color, and fit of your partial dentures, and you may have to return to try them before the final appointment. You may salivate a tad more and experience some soreness when wearing new dentures, but that should get better in a while.

Dentures are designed to last for years, but you will need to replace them at some point.