When you lose teeth and end up with multiple gaps spread out across your smile, you need more than a bridge, but may not require a full denture either. But a partial denture can help fill in multiple gaps at once, with a lifelike appearance too! In today’s blog, your Shrewsbury, MA, dentist talks about our partial dentures and how they help complete smiles again.
The Causes and Risks of Tooth Loss
How do we end up losing our natural teeth? Missing teeth could occur due to an injury to the face or jaw, or possibly as a result of an advanced case of tooth decay or infection. The most common cause for adults is actually periodontitis, the advanced stage of gum disease. When we lose teeth, especially multiple ones spread out across the smile, this could complicate how we eat and limit meal options. There could be issues with clear speech, and we may avoid social interactions due to embarrassment, which harms our quality of life. Misalignment could also occur as teeth drift due to the gaps in the smile, and the risk of TMJ disorder and even bruxism (teeth grinding) could rise. But with partial dentures, we can fill the gaps in your some at once!
Creating Custom Dentures
To begin, we will carefully examine your smile to assess the cause and extent of your tooth loss. We may recommend treatment for underlying issues like periodontal disease, so we can manage it and protect remaining natural teeth. Next, we take detailed digital images of the teeth from multiple angles, and use these in a lab setting to design and craft your new teeth. The prosthetic will contain new ceramic teeth set in an acrylic base. The teeth will be shaded to blend with your remaining natural ones, and the base will look like gum tissue.
Securing Your Partials
When your prosthetic is ready, we will show you how to secure it. The prosthetic will have metal clasps that will connect to natural teeth and remain invisible when you smile, but help support your new prosthetic firmly in place. They can last about 5 to 10 years on average, requiring replacement as your jaw ridge changes shape with time. We will discuss proper care, including soaking and cleaning, to ensure your denture can last as long as possible. If you have any questions about our partials, then contact out team today to learn more!
Learn More About Replacing Your Missing Teeth
With a custom and lifelike dental prosthetic, our team can help you smile with confidence. To schedule a visit and address your tooth loss with a set of partials, call Modern Dentistry of Shrewsbury in Shrewsbury, MA at (508) 842-8838 today.
