Not All Partial Dentures Are Alike

Overview

If you are missing one or more teeth, there are a number of denture solutions available for replacing them including:

Full dentures are often only appropriate for patients who have no remaining healthy teeth and while implant-supported dentures are a possibility, they can prove to be cost prohibitive.

One of the most popular tooth loss solutions recommended by denturists are partial dentures which fill in the spaces between missing teeth, restoring your smile and improving your appearance.

However, there are many different types of partial dentures to choose from and while your denturist can provide some professional recommendations, it is important to fully understand your options in order to make the best decision for your specific needs.

Denture Solutions

What Are The Different Types of Partial Dentures?

The type of partial denture that is right for you depends on several different factors including the health of your remaining teeth, your budget and your goals for treatment.

Partial dentures usually fall into two main categories: fixed and removable.

Fixed Partial Dentures

A fixed partial denture is one that is permanently attached to either implants or natural teeth. Because it is bonded or cemented into place, only a denturist can remove it.

There are two main types of fixed partial dentures.

Fixed Bridge

Fixed bridges are an excellent denture solution for patients who are missing one or two teeth with healthy teeth at either end.

A traditional fixed bridge is composed of an artificial tooth with crowns attached to either side. These crowns are then cemented over the teeth next to the missing tooth.

Some of the benefits of a fixed bridge include:

Permanent solution to tooth loss
Allows you to retain your natural face shape
Natural look and feel

Implant-Supported Fixed Bridge

If you are missing too many teeth for a fixed bridge, or do not want to damage your existing healthy tooth structure, an implant-supported fixed bridge might be the best choice

Like a traditional fixed bridge, an implant-supported bridge is placed permanently rather than being removable and this type of denture often lasts for a lifetime.

An initial consultation with your denturist can help best determine whether a traditional or implant-supported fixed bridge is the best option for your tooth loss needs.

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Removable Partial Dentures

A removable partial denture (RPD) is made up of an artificial tooth or teeth with small attachments on either side. These attachments anchor the artificial tooth to the healthy, natural teeth beside it and can be detached when the RPD needs to be removed.

The different types of RPDs include:

Cast Metal Removable Partial Denture

This is the most common type of removable partial denture. It consists of high-quality replacement teeth on a rigid cast metal frame.

While the less expensive version of this partial denture have metal clasps to attach to the existing teeth, precision attachments give better comfort and fit.

With proper care, this type of partial denture can last for many years.

Acrylic Removable Partial Denture

Often referred to as a ‘flipper’, an acrylic removable partial denture is set in a pink acrylic base that must be thick and bulky to minimize breakage risks.

It is attached to your natural teeth with visible metal clasps. While this is generally considered a temporary solution, some patients may use them successfully for years.

Learn More

To learn more about your partial denture options including costs and benefits of each, contact our Calgary denturist today at 403-475-0016.

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Vlad Dumbrava

Vlad Dumbrava has been active in the field of denture therapy since 2008. Upon receiving his denturist degree in 2011 from George Brown College in Toronto, Ontario, he continued his education in Medical Sciences at Western University.