Bridges, Partials and Dentures @eine kleine dental

With dentures and partials, you can replace missing teeth to benefit your eating and speaking ability and enhance your appearance.

There are two ways to replace teeth as long as other teeth remain in the same arch.

The most stable replacement is the (1) fixed partial denture, or bridge.

• A bridge uses crowns as the anchors on the remaining stable teeth on either side of the space, with the replacement tooth attached to these anchors.
• When properly executed a bridge feels very similar to natural teeth.
• Bridges are generally made of porcelain-fused-to-metal crowns or are all gold or gold alloy.

The second option for tooth replacement when some teeth are remaining is the (2) removeable partial denture.  This type of prosthesis uses some of the remaining natural teeth as anchors but is removeable. The removeable partial denture will restore chewing function and stability but not to the degree of a fixed partial denture, or bridge.

• Sometimes the removable partial denture is the only alternative if the there are not enough stable teeth to support a bridge.
• Removable partial dentures must be evaluated periodically. Over time, the residual jawbone may continue to resorb, changing the underlying support for the partial denture. Subsequently, more foce may be placed on the anchor teeth, loosening them.
• Anchor teeth for partials are also more difficult to keep clean, this makes them more susceptible to dental decay or periodontal disease.

The final step in the replacement of teeth occurs when a patient is completely edentulous (toothless) in either of one or both arches. The removeable complete denture is the basic option in either case.

• The replacement teeth are embedded in a pink acrylic denture which is placed against the residual jaw ridge. The stability of the denture is dependent on the amount of ridge remaining, the proper contours of the denture and hydrostatic pressure created.
• A maxillary (upper arch) denture is relatively stable. The mandibular (lower arch) can be much less stable due to the shape of the mandible (jawbone) and the decrease in surface area on which the denture rests.
• Bottom line. If given a choice, it is important to do anything you can to save at least some of your mandibular (lower arch) teeth.