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Conventional Removable Partial Dentures

A partial denture is useful for a person missing some teeth, but who still has a number of natural teeth.

This device also is called a removable prosthesis, and is a means by which artificial replacement teeth are held in the mouth. The prosthesis commonly is kept in place by means of clasps. These are thin finger-like structures, usually made of a special resilient metal alloy or sometimes plastic, that rest upon and wrap around some remaining natural teeth. Clasps keep the prosthesis securely in place, but still allow a person to easily take it out for regular cleaning and proper brushing of remaining natural teeth.

Some Reasons for Having Partial Dentures Made

• Replace missing teeth
• Improve ability to chew more naturally
• Chew food with confidence
• Make it possible to eat certain favorite foods
• Maintain a healthier and socially acceptable mouth
• Aid in the preservation of remaining natural teeth
• Help prevent or treat problems of the TMJ (the jaw joint)
• Often improve speech
• Help develop a more pleasing and confident smile
• Support the face -- often with a more youthful appearance
• Enhance self esteem
• Replace missing teeth in an economical way
• Add an additional tooth to an existing partial denture if a natural tooth is lost
• In most cases, crowning teeth is not necessary to fit a partial denture
• Partial dentures are usually easy to repair if they are broken

Esthetics and the Conventional Partial Denture

Generally, clasp design is reasonably esthetic, and often it is possible for them not to be seen. However, depending upon partial denture design, which is based on mouth conditions, there may be some show of clasps. Often, this is not an appearance problem. However, if avoiding an unacceptable show of clasps would compromise optimal partial denture design, various special attachments sometimes may be employed to do away with conventional clasps. These attachments are more technically complex and often are referred to as precision or semi-precision attachments.

How Long Will a Partial Denture Last?

Accidents happen, and the mouth is constantly changing. Partial dentures may no longer fit properly, can break or bend, or simply wear out. In fact, there is nothing made for the mouth that is permanent. Fractured clasps and so forth often may be repaired.

On average, a partial denture may be expected to last about five years. Depending upon circumstances, certain removable prostheses can last a shorter or longer time.

How Often Should a Partial Denture Be Checked?

It is best to have a partial denture, as well as the rest of the mouth, checked at six-month intervals. If left uncorrected, small problems can develop into major ones, which could cause disease, loss of teeth, or necessitate premature prosthesis replacement.

Partial Dentures Need to Be Relined

The jaw ridge that a partial denture rests upon is constantly changing. It is normal and necessary to regularly modify how a partial denture contacts the ridge. This maintenance correction is called relining, and on average, needs to be performed annually for optimal function. However, this is dependent upon how an individual's mouth changes. A licensed dentist can best advise when a reline is needed, and when a reline will no longer adequately restore proper function.

by Joseph J. Massad, D.D.S.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Relieve Irritation With Soft Denture Liners

A soft denture liner is placed in the part of a denture base that contacts tissues. This provides comfort for those persons experiencing considerable pain while wearing a denture that has a hard plastic interface (the inside of the denture).

These individuals may have a low threshold for pain, and/or the gum tissue that overlays jawbone is usually thinner than normal and does not resist pressure well. When such tissue is compressed between hard jawbone and hard denture plastic, pain is easily elicited. Replacing one of these hard interfaces with a soft denture liner helps eliminate or reduce this painful tissue compression.

Some Characteristics of Soft Denture Liners

Denture liners are usually fabricated from special medical grade rubber or silicone-type compounds. The silicone materials are generally more compressible and, consequently, softer.

In order for these materials to function adequately, they must be reasonably thick. Therefore, the amount of plastic that needs to be removed from the inside of a denture to allow room for these liners may weaken some dentures. In those cases, it becomes necessary to incorporate a reinforcing metal framework within the body of certain dentures. There are several steps involved in installing a soft denture liner, such as impressions and various laboratory procedures.

Soft denture liners tend to continually harden, though a patient may not be aware of this happening because the process is gradual. However, they eventually will begin to have increasing problems until a new soft denture liner is placed.

Denture liners are porous in nature, which accounts for why they are soft. However, this porosity contributes to their deterioration and collection of microorganisms.

If a soft denture liner becomes contaminated with disease-causing microorganisms (a fungus for example), it may not be possible to decontaminate the denture without having to replace the denture liner.

Persons with dry mouth usually have difficulty wearing dentures due to pain and irritation caused by the hard denture surface rubbing against underlying tissues that are not lubricated with adequate saliva. While soft denture liners would appear to be ideal for such individuals, they are generally much more difficult to maintain. Because impaired saliva production allows a very significant collection of microorganisms to buildup in the mouth, this usually results in unacceptable contamination of porous soft denture liners unless meticulous oral hygiene is maintained.

While denture liners generally will last longer than a year, they should be replaced on an annual basis or sooner. The frequency of replacement depends on each situation and the patient's oral hygiene.

Advantages of Soft Denture Liners

• A gentle and kinder denture interface for those individuals with sensitive underlying tissues.
• The soft denture liner tends to compress and conform to a constantly changing jawbone surface. While this helps prevent pain from a moderately unbalanced bite resulting from jawbone shrinkage, it is not a long-term substitute for regular adjustments to balance a denture bite.

Disadvantages of Soft Denture Liners

• Soft denture liners continually deteriorate and collect microorganisms easily; therefore, they generally are replaced on an annual basis.
• Because soft denture liners help reduce pain from an uneven bite, patients may get a false sense of security, thinking their denture is adequately functioning while the bite continues to deteriorate. Routine dental check-ups are a necessity.
• Generally, soft tissue liners are more expensive than a conventional hard denture liner.

by Joseph J. Massad, D.D.S.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.