Frequently Asked Questions

<< back to FAQ's

What Are The Major Types of Partial Dentures?

Partial Dentures

Removable partial dentures are prosthesis that replace some teeth in a partially dentate arch and can be removed from the mouth and replaced at will. The desire is to replace teeth that serve functional and social rolls. The major categories of tooth loss are with teeth anterior and posterior to the space (a tooth supported space) or without the benefit of natural tooth support at each end of the replacement teeth (a tooth and tissue supported space).

Standard Acrylic

Standard acrylic using the same material used to make standard full dentures usually using wrought wires to clip around the natural teeth. They are predominantly tissue born, due to this they need regular maintenance. They are the weakest of available partial dentures but are quicker and cheaper to construct. Many people keep this type of appliance for many years and outwardly look as good as the more expensive appliances. Also if at a later date any existing natural teeth need extracting for any reason, a new false tooth can be added quickly and reasonably cheaply maintaining a patient’s appearance. Therefore patients with compromised teeth with a high probability of further addition through loss of natural dentition, these are a more realistic compromise as a transitional denture.

On the other side of the ledger, the acrylic acts as a thermal barrier as they do with full dentures. Being acrylic they are more susceptible to breakage. Particularly on the lower arch the tendency is to build them fairly thick to counter act this weakness. Also being tissue born they tend to be less rigid or firm in the mouth compared to the other partial replacement dentures.

Chrome or Gold Cast Metal Frame Works with Acrylic & Teeth Attached

These frames sit on the natural teeth as well as being attached to them and can be made extremely strong, thinner and less invasive and so are much less noticeable to the wearing patient. They rigidly lock into place and have almost no movement once seated. This stability and retention benefits the wearer with less force being placed on the soft oral tissues. Cared for castings can be recycled to have the acrylic and teeth replaced when they have deteriorated.

Further addition due to the loss of natural dentition may not be the simple exercise as offered by acrylic partials. Extreme cases may result in the frame work being of little benefit other than a strengthener. New sections can be cast and welded to the existing metal frame. This is a more expensive exercise than adding to acrylic dentures but is usually less expensive than having a new acrylic denture made.

Flexible Dentures

These are made of nylon and acetal resin; they are the more recent of the dental materials available in clear and several gum and tooth colours. They are tissue borne like acrylic partials. The pinks match quite well with gum tissues and so with no metal showing blends into the mouth to become almost undetectable. The material itself is unbreakable under normal forces of the mouth but the acrylic teeth are. This flexibility and strength allow the dentures to be made much thinner than acrylic dentures and almost as thin as metal maybe made. There is no preparation needed for the natural teeth necessary. There is a thermal barrier similar to acrylic partials but the material maybe used in conjunction with metal frames hiding the retaining units with any of the materials clear, tooth coloured or pink.

Further addition due to the loss of natural dentition may not be the simple exercise as offered by acrylic partials and careful consideration should be given to the costs associated as to whether a new one would be more beneficial.

REFERENCE LIST