Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are designed to replace the missing dentition sections, to help preserve natural dental placement and prevent the existing healthy natural teeth from migrating to a different position.

Partial dentures are used when some natural teeth remain in the upper or lower jaw. Partial dentures work by using the remaining teeth for retention, thus retaining, and stabilising the denture so that it doesn’t move or fall.

Partial dentures can be fabricated in a few different materials; the most common materials being either Acrylic or Chrome. I can also make Flexible partial dentures.

Acrylic

Acrylic dentures are usually the most cost effective and can be made within a short period of time. Other advantages are that they can be relined, added to (in case you lose any more natural teeth) and can be used as a temporary denture before dental implants.

Some of the disadvantages are that the acrylic denture base is slightly weaker due to its irregular shape and tends to break more frequently, especially those made for the lower arch. To counteract this, the acrylic is usually thicker, which can take a little extra time to get used to.

Chrome

Chrome dentures are more a long-term material for a partial denture, as the frame and required components are all cast in one piece. The components of a chrome partial denture rest on soft tissue and natural teeth, making the denture both tooth and tissue borne, thus distributing the load evenly when chewing, helping to protect the underlying bone.

Due to the strength of the chrome, it can be made in a smaller, more efficient design, making it more comfortable to wear and live with, whilst giving you the security of knowing it has less chance of breakage.

Flexible Dentures

Flexible partial dentures are made from flexible plastic material which fits neatly into your mouth. It is virtually invisible due to having no metal clasp to cover your natural teeth. Due to the flexible material this allows the patient’s natural gum tissue colour to appear through the denture, therefore allowing the flexible denture to become invisible to the human eye.