Partial Dentures

Partial Dentures: Replacing Missing Teeth

‘Partial Dentures’ would be worn in a situation where some natural teeth remain in either the top of the mouth, (called a partial upper denture), or the bottom, (called a partial lower denture).

What Are My Options with Partial Dentures?

In general, there are two types of partial dentures that may suit your needs: ‘Cast Partials’ and ‘Acrylic Partials’.

1. Cast Partial Denture – sometimes referred to as a ‘metal denture’, this is a partial denture, (pink gum material and denture teeth), with a metal base, (made of Chromium Cobalt), and has on average 2-4 metal clasps that hook around any remaining natural teeth to help keep it in the mouth.

The metal framework is designed in a way to give the best support and function of the denture while keeping in mind aesthetics. It is understandable that the less you see the clasps the better the denture will look however there needs to be a balance between function and cosmetics.

Occasionally, the denture may require ‘rest seats’ to help seat it in the mouth and prevent unwanted movement. This involves a dentist making a small grove on the surface on one or two of your natural back teeth and the metal framework will have a corresponding piece that sits right in there.

PROS

The metal part is less bulky than the all acrylic type of partial (see below)
The metal clasps are more stiff/rigid and thus are stronger with less chance of deforming
Use rest seats to allow for better stability of the denture
Roof of mouth less covered which means less chance for gagging and allows you to taste of the food you eat
Less prone to break

CONS

2. Acrylic Partial Denture – this partial denture is made entirely out of acrylic, (pink denture material), and will use anywhere from 2-4 wire clasps around natural teeth to help hold it in place.

They tend to act more as an interim denture, for example, when natural teeth are in the process of being extracted. During the healing process after extractions you don’t have to go without any teeth so an acrylic partial would be worn during this time. After healing, a final cast partial denture can be made.

Some individuals do choose this type of partial to wear long-term since it costs less than a cast partial denture, but because it relies more on the gums for support, the gums can be stripped away from the teeth leading to possible oral damage and tooth extraction in the future, unlike a cast partial which utilises stronger clasps and a metal framework.

PROS

CONS

More bulky when compared to cast partials
Clasps are more prone to distort a bit, however, they can also be adjusted to loosen/make tighter
Roof of mouth may be covered a bit more, which may prevent full taste of food
More prone to break
Gums/oral tissues at risk of being damaged and stripped away slightly

How Much Do Partial Dentures Cost?

As a rough guide, the cost of cast partial dentures usually falls in a range between $1200-$1700 per arch, (meaning for just the upper or lower). The cost of an acrylic partial denture usually falls in a range between $800-$1100.

Now, this price can change based on a variety of factors. There are higher quality materials and teeth that can be used. Also if the partial denture is being held in the mouth via dental implants, these would cost much more. Please see our Pricing Section for much more details on the cost of dentures.

Why Would I Need a Partial Denture?

Not having a partial denture can negatively affect your appearance as well as the health of your remaining natural teeth.

Cosmetics: If it is your front teeth you are missing, aesthetics would play a large role in your decision to get a partial. A full smile plays a large role in our self confidence and social relationships.
Speech: Not having front teeth directly affects speech, as our front teeth play a major role in the way we make sounds with our mouth and tongue.
Drifting Teeth: Teeth that are adjacent to the gap can shift and lean into the empty area trying to fill it. This can cause long-term damage to those natural teeth. A partial denture would fill in the missing teeth and lend support to those neighbouring teeth.
Over Erupting Teeth: Natural teeth opposing a space of missing teeth, (for example, if there are teeth missing on the bottom, but real teeth on the top), can over erupt, and can eventually lead to needing those teeth to be extracted. If more teeth are lost then the bone in our jaws will be lost, because natural teeth anchored into our mouths help maintain bone structure of the jaw in that area. Less jaw bone means more prone to fractures, less biting force and less chance of putting a dental implant anytime in the future.

Partial Dentures for Back Teeth

It is just as important to get a partial denture for back teeth as it is for front teeth. Remember that cosmetics and aesthetics is not the only thing to consider.

Our back teeth play a large role in chewing our food. If food is not properly chewed and broken down then this can result in poor digestion and eventually leads to lacking the necessary nutrition we need.

Partial Dentures for Front Teeth

Not replacing front teeth with a denture can result in:

Partial Dentures for One Tooth

Sometimes called a ‘Flipper’, a single tooth partial denture can be made to replace a missing tooth. The will typically cost much less than a partial replacing many teeth, (they range around $300-$900). They also don’t take as long to make as a cast partial or acrylic partial denture.

Metal clasps, (which hook around natural teeth) can also be added to them to help prevent them from falling out of the mouth. Adding clasps would mean an increase in price.

This type of denture is really for aesthetics and not so much function. A single tooth, (for example, if you are replacing a front tooth), can break easily so one has to be extra careful if it is being worn while eating.

The other option to replace a single tooth is to get a dental implant from a dentist. The benefit here is that an implant is a single tooth sitting on a post vs. a denture where the top of your mouth, (the palate), would be covered with pink denture material. However, implants cost much more, (Thousands of dollars), and may not be right for everyone based on their financial situation and their oral health conditions needed to receive an implant.

Are Partial Dentures Comfortable?

For a first time wearer of dentures, it will take more time to get used to them, much like wearing a new pair of shoes. The muscles of the face and mouth need time to adapt to the denture.

Putting in and taking out the partial can require some practice. The denturist will show you the correct path of insertion, (for example, inserting one side first before you the other), and it can take some getting used to. Never bite the denture into place.

Sometimes the clasps hooking around natural teeth can be a bit uncomfortable. In most cases, these can be tightened or loosened by a denturist.

If you already wear a denture, a new one will also feel a bit different at first, but with time you will accustom yourself to them.

It can take anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months to get used to a new partial dentures. Some tips are to start off eating softer foods before moving onto harder ones and practice speaking/reading out loud to get your facial muscles used to the dentures.

Problems With Wearing New Dentures

When wearing a new denture, it can be normal to experience;

Denture sore spots: After first wearing the denture, it can sometime rub against the gum tissues causing a small sore. This can always be adjusted with a visit to your denturist. Sometimes a few adjustment appointments will be needed.
Increase of saliva: At first your mouth will see a denture as a forign object, but this will subside with time.
Your speech will sound different: Practice reading books out loud to allow your facial muscles to get used to speaking.
Dentures start to feel loose: Either the wire clasps need to be tightened or the denture is a few years old and in need of a re-line.

How Many Appointments are there for Partial Dentures?

There are generally 4 appointments needed for a partial denture:

Initial impression of the mouth is taken using a tray filled with alginate material and the way the natural teeth bite is recorded.
Measurements are taken using wax blocks which are placed in the mouth to mark where teeth should go, also the bite is recorded (if it wasn’t by the first appointment) and the colour/shade of teeth is chosen matching the colour of any remaining natural teeth.
Trying in the denture teeth set to see how it looks. Any changes can still be made at this point, for example, if the midline of the teeth should be changed.
Final Denture Inserted and any minor adjustments are also made at this point.

Possible additional appointments would be:

a second impression taken of the mouth using a custom sized tray giving a more accurate result, (this is done after appointment 1).
extra try-ins of the dentures (if any changes were made)
any further adjustments needed (after having worn the denture for a day or week).

These would be included in the price of the denture. Typically any adjustments needed within 3 months of wearing the dentures are also included.

How Long Does it Take to Make Partial Dentures?

The appointments are done usually within a month, although a week or two extra made be needed for any additional try-ins or adjustments.

The denturist has a lot of work to do at the lab in order to make the dentures which is why time is needed. This includes:

pouring stone models of your mouth based on the impressions taken
setting denture teeth
carving wax to mimic gums
processing the denture into acrylic material
trimming and polishing the dentures
with cast partials, the metal frame also needs to be made and processed

If any tooth extractions are needed, (for examples, any teeth that need to be pulled by a dentist before a partial is made), then the time until you get your new dentures will increase because time is needed to allow your gums to heal. This can be anywhere from 5-8 weeks.

As mentioned above, after having teeth extracted, you don’t have to go without any denture until everything has healed. An ‘Immediate Denture’ can be made which acts as an interim solution until the final denture is made.

How Long Do Partial Dentures Last?

Typically partial dentures should last 5-7 years, if they are properly cared for. It is recommended to have the dentures ‘relined’ within that time frame at least once, because our mouths and jaws go through so many changes and we want to maintain a proper fit of the dentures.

Over time, denture teeth can wear down and because the pink material, (acrylic), is porous, it can stain and start to smell.

If you have any further questions about anything denture related, please gives me a call at (647) 974 8449 or email me at LBdenture@gmail.com.

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