How Does A Partial Rebuild Your Smile?
Our last blog focused on bridges, which address between one and up to three missing teeth in a row. But what if you have several other gaps spread out across your smile? In these situations, restoring function and beauty to your smile could mean you need a partial. In today’s blog, your Cleveland, TX, dentist will explain how we treat tooth loss with a partial denture.
The Dangers of Losing Multiple Teeth
We could lose teeth to tooth decay, infection, or injury. The most common factor is the advanced stage of gum disease, known as periodontitis. Whatever the cause, the result is difficulty eating and speaking clearly, or embarrassment about your smile’s appearance. Once the body registers the loss of a tooth root, the flow of calcium and phosphates the jaw is suspended, causing the bone tissue to break down over time. An aged appearance could develop, as could further tooth loss!
Designing a Partial Denture
If you don’t have enough missing teeth to support a complete denture, but enough that a bridge isn’t a viable option, then you may need a partial. The prosthetic contains several pontics, or replacement teeth, set in an acrylic base that looks like gum tissue. Metal clasps will also be there, which attach to the natural teeth in your smile and support the prosthetic. The clasps will be invisible once your dentures are in place. To design them, we take detailed digital images and measurements of your smile, allowing us to create a 3D model. At a dental lab, this information is used to design and fabricate them. We color-match the teeth to ensure they blend with your smile, and the custom nature means they fit comfortably.
Removable and Implant Support
The clasps we mentioned above are used in the removable option, which is taken out periodically for cleaning and soaking, and tends to last between five and ten years. They need replacement as the jaw changes shaped due to the breakdown of mass and density. However, we could also support them with dental implants instead of clasps, which stimulates the growth of jawbone tissue and allows the denture to last for decades to come, possibly even a lifetime!
If you have any questions about using a partial prosthetic to address your missing teeth, then contact our team today to learn more.
Your Cleveland, TX Dentist’s Office Offers Dentures
Cleveland Family Dentistry in Cleveland, TX is ready to restore the function, health, and yes, the beauty of your smile with a prosthetic. To learn more about the dangers of tooth loss and why you need a replacement option, then contact our office at (281) 592-1234 to schedule your appointment today. A full smile is possible!