Often, patients do not need to replace an entire row of teeth. It may be a matter of replacing two or three teeth in your smile. Although it may seem easier and less costly to go without those missing teeth, especially if they are not easily visible to others, a full smile has many benefits. Missing teeth give bacteria and plaque extra places to accumulate, which can lead to gum disease and the loss of more teeth. Additionally, those gaps in your smile allow your remaining teeth to drift out of alignment, which can affect your bite. In such cases, a partial denture may be right for you. At Patricia Conn, DDS, our dentist can explain all of the benefits of a partial denture, as well as outline the process of fitting you for a set. If you would like to learn more about partial dentures in Ferndale, Washington, contact our office at 360-384-5902 today.
In cases in which a patient does not need to replace all of their teeth or a row of teeth, the dentist may suggest partial dentures. Partial dentures are prosthetic teeth that are fixed to a plastic base that is colored to resemble a patient’s gums. Unlike a bridge, which is fixed in the mouth and cannot be removed except by a dentist, partial dentures can be removed so that they can be cleaned or placed in a soaking solution. They may be held in place with metal clasps or other attachments that are less visible to others, or they may attach to crowns on your teeth. As with any full dentures, partial dentures need to be cleaned at least once a day and will need adjustments over time.