Partials and partial dentures in Minneapolis

Partials are another dental procedure to restore missing teeth and return the mouth to a healthy state. Partials are removable devices, usually held in the mouth with a wire framework. In most cases partials are a more affordable solution than an implant, which has the main advantage of being permanently placed in the mouth.

Missing teeth create problems

Spaces created by missing teeth cause the surrounding natural teeth in the mouth to drift into the spaces. When drifting occurs, the stable state of the mouth begins to shift and decline. The ill-effects of a missing tooth can be wide ranging and unpredictable.

Increased bacteria levels

Once the natural teeth drift into spaces caused by missing teeth, additional spaces between the remaining natural teeth result. These spaces then themselves become places where food can become lodged, and therefore where bacteria and plaque can thrive. Once bacteria and plaque take hold in these spaces, the health of the surrounding natural teeth often become compromised.

Opposing teeth also move

In addition to affecting the adjacent teeth, spaces caused by missing teeth also affect the opposing teeth, the teeth right above the space. When a tooth does not have an opposing tooth, as in the case of a missing tooth, then the tendency is that the tooth will try and move into the space. When opposing teeth drift in this fashion, the balance of the mouth is again upset and can cause many unrelated problems for the patient.

Spaces are bad

Whenever a tooth is removed from the mouth, it is very, very important for the resulting space to be filled. Partials are one way of doing this. Even if the partial is a temporary solution — perhaps the patient wishes to do an implant at a later time — the ill-effects of a space in the mouth are eliminated.

The main problem

The main problem with a partial is that it is not a permanent tooth. Partials require some additional work on the patient's part, namely removing and cleaning the partial on a daily basis. Not removing and cleaning the partial can increase the chances for having bad breath, as well as increased opportunity for bacteria to start decay on the abutting teeth.

The solution

The good news is that partials keep the state of oral health stable, and they can usually be replaced with implants as a permanent solution at some later point.

Read more about partials and dentures from the American Dental Association