Missing teeth can make it difficult to chew food and can even affect the way you speak. Fortunately, modern dental technology provides some excellent solutions to replace missing teeth. For many patients, partials and dentures can not only replace missing teeth – they can drastically improve their quality of life. At Apple Dental, we are pleased to be able to provide partials and dentures to our patients from throughout the Monroe, LA, area.
What You Should Know about Partials
A partial is designed to replace one or more missing teeth in a patient’s mouth. Composed of artificial teeth set in a frame that fits over adjoining existing teeth, modern-day partials can be made either from a combination of metal and acrylic or entirely acrylic. Metal partials are somewhat more durable than acrylic versions. However, acrylic partials are sometimes used as a transitional or temporary device in some patients. Partials act in much the same way as a dental bridge, except that a partial can be removed by the patient.
What You Should Know about Dentures
Dentures are designed for people who are missing all their teeth, or who need to have their teeth extracted for whatever reason. Drs. Sanderson, Haynes, and Williamson provide patients with either of the following types of full dentures:
- Cоnvеntіоnаl full dеnturе: Conventional dentures are provided for a patient after all teeth are removed and the gum tissue has healed. The disadvantage of conventional dentures is that the patient will be without teeth until their gum tissue heals.
- Immediate full denture: This type of denture is inserted into the patient’s mouth immediately after all teeth are removed. The advantage of immediate dentures is that the patient doesn’t have to live without teeth while the gum tissue heals, although immediate dentures do require relining several month after being initially inserted since the bone changes shape as it heals, which can make the dentures loose.
How Long Will My Partials/Dentures Last?
In most cases, partials and dentures should last for many years, although they will eventually need to be adjusted after a certain period of time. Drs. Sanderson, Haynes, and Williamson encourage patients to visit their office at least once a year to check the fit of partials and dentures.
Contact Our Office Today
To find out more information about dentures/partials, or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Sanderson, Dr. Haynes or Dr. Williamson, call our Monroe LA dentist office today.