Dentures and partials as a replacement for missing teeth
Dentures are a common solution for replacing missing teeth. Dentures can exist as complete (full) dentures or partial dentures (partials). Both types of dentures are removable, and can be inserted and removed as necessary. Full dentures are used when all of the natural teeth are missing, or extracted from the mouth, and are then replaced with a new, full set of prosthetics. Partials are used when only a portion of the mouth requires replacing missing teeth.
Partials are sometimes referred to as removable dental bridges, as they replace missing teeth by bridging a gap created by a missing tooth or teeth by anchoring to existing teeth in the mouth. Dental partials or bridges prevent healthy teeth from shifting or changing position, causing spacing and other issues for the remaining healthy teeth.
Benefits of Dentures or Partial Dentures
While you might think replacing missing teeth is solely for appearance purposes, dentures and partials are also very important for oral health and functionality.
For proper functioning, teeth need the support of surrounding teeth and bone structure. If there are any gaps or spacing where a tooth is missing, this can cause significant stress on the gums and oral tissues. This can lead to a number of problems, such as speech impediments, gum disease, teeth shifting, and loss of bone. It is best to have a dentist take a look and go over all of your options for replacing missing teeth!