Partial Vs. Full Dentures. What’s The Difference?

Problems Caused by Missing Teeth

The most common problems caused by missing teeth include:

• Trouble chewing and swallowing food may lead to weight gain or malnutrition (eating less than usual).
• You have a reduced ability to speak clearly because of the lack of teeth in your mouth.
• Bone atrophy. People with missing teeth tend to suffer from bone deterioration. This is because the body absorbs the bone if no teeth are present. Without replacing the teeth, you risk losing about 12 percent of the bone support in the first year and then gradually.

Replacing the lost teeth is crucial to your oral health and the best way to preserve your oral health. Fortunately, we have several teeth replacement options that you can use, including dental implants and dentures. Between the two options, dentures are less invasive and do not require oral surgery. It is, however, important to visit a denture clinic near you for a discussion on which treatment is ideal.

What Is A Denture?

A tooth denture is a removable appliance that replaces missing teeth, and it comes in two versions–partial and full. A partial denture is ideal when you have some teeth in your mouth, while a full denture can be used when you have more than half or all teeth missing in your upper or lower jaw.

A partial denture allows you to eat and speak normally with only minor adjustments made by an oral surgeon before being fitted into place. However, it will not be able to support chewing power as natural teeth do and, therefore, may need further treatment after six months or so if it’s not comfortable enough for everyday use.

Partial vs. Full Dentures: What’s The Difference?

Partial dentures are acrylic, metal, or a combination of both. They sit on the gums and bone in your jaw and are used if you have less than half of the teeth missing. Full dentures are ideal when all teeth on the upper and lower jaw are missing and provide better stability.

These complete dentures are further classified into two—immediate and conventional dentures.

Immediate dentures are placed within 24 hours of tooth extraction and are temporary. They are meant to protect the socket while the tissues heal, but not meant for long periods. If you have immediate dentures and start wearing them for longer than a few days, there’s a good chance that they won’t fit properly or may even get damaged during wear.

Conventional dentures are fixed after the teeth are moved, and gums have healed properly, which happens after 12 weeks.

Pros and Cons Of Partial Vs. Full Dentures

In general, partial dentures are less expensive than complete dentures. However, this price will differ depending on if you need an additional bridge or implant to complete the restoration process. After the dental examination, your dentist near you will choose an ideal option based on if you need support for the dentures or not.

How Are Dental Dentures Made?

Dr. Marc Howard Roberts will first examine the teeth, gums, and jaws and how they relate. He will take a series of casts to create dental dentures. The fit and the color are examined before the final model is made. Getting dental dentures is noninvasive, but it takes several appointments.

When Do Dental Dentures Need A Reline?

Dental dentures do not replace the jawbone, and as such, the jawbone will shrink, and the dentures become ill-fitting. Visit an emergency dentist in Decatur, GA, if you notice gum soreness, pain, and the dentures are ill-fitting.

How to Care for your Dentures?

Good oral hygiene is essential when wearing partial or complete dentures.

It’s important to brush and floss your teeth daily. Even if you have dentures, this routine will help keep them in good condition.

You should also visit a dental office in Decatur regularly for cleanings and checkups to ensure that your partial or complete dentures are correctly balanced and working properly. If you haven’t been to the dentist regularly, it’s time to start!

Schedule an appointment

Visit Robert’s Family Dental in Decatur for more information about Dental dentures and what you can expect.