Denture Information
Partial Dentures
 
Partial Dentures
Partial dentures are designed to replace the missing dentition sections, to help preserve natural dental placement and prevent the existing healthy natural teeth from migrating to a different position; as apposed to full dental appliances, which, generally replace an entire removed dentition in a totally edentulous mouth.
Metal Frame ready for trial Plastic Partial Denture Metal Partial & Plastic Partial
The spacing created of the missing dentition can cause positional bite problems, such as Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) problems that can create headaches, earaches, or even difficulty moving your jaw due to extreme pain. It can sometimes be initially recognised by a clicking or popping sound. The general aim for partial dentures is to prevent these problems by working to keep your remaining dentition in their natural dimension and position.
In some instances, partial dentures have been called “over-dentures,” although it is more of a literal term these days. Over-dentures is the general term for the implant branch of dentistry which, are designed to fit over a small section to implants or natural roots of teeth fitted with abutment heads. Generally, partial dentures have appropriately placed clasps, made of flexible metal clasps, which are used to attach the dental appliance and are used to attach the appliance to existing teeth. Specially made clasps, which can cost a little more, are made of flexible and colour assimilated material that lessen these bracing arms to be noticeable. In some cases, a crown will be in fitted on an existing healthy tooth or abutment to facilitate and ensure a better hold for the clasp.
Partial dentures are currently constructed out of a combination of metal and acrylic, or purely out of the diverse acrylic available.
A partial denture, or removable partial denture (RPD)
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Acrylic (plastic) RPD. This consists of an acrylic surrounding body and flexible wire clasps. I like to consider this appliance as more of a temporary product and it’s use should only be made available for instances, such as, the waiting period for an implant or an integrating process for a metal prosthesis. An acrylic RPD can either replace a single front tooth or a multiply removed dentition.
 
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Flexible plastic. Have a flexible characteristic that at times may be found to be more tolerable for the patient as they have a nature to mould and bend over and around the dentition. The other positive factor of these appliances is that rid metal clasps, are formed of tooth coloured materials that match the natural tooth shade rendering the less visible. However, these materials can absorb oral and other fluids, easily creating ill taste and unpleasant odours after a while.
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Flexible dentures can be ordered with specially coloured clasping to match the colour of the natural dentition, elimenating from the aesthetics from metal clasps, as seen with the dentures below.
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Composite Light cured. This type of material allows for both full and partial dental appliances to be made. It is, I believe, a fantastically diverse material that is strong and allows many more application processes to be utilised, enabling the practitioner to work in a more adaptable way necessary for a particular patient needs. It is very mouldable and adaptable.
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Cast metal RPD. These appliances are extremely accurate fitting frames that rest and retentively brace the natural dentition, of which, acquires the necessary retention by simply wedging itself between the spaces of the remaining dentition and locks around the curvature of the tooth. This process is assessed and determined in an intensively calculated way. This type of appliance, I believe, is the most acceptable removable partial dental appliance. The metal framework is made separate and prior to the acrylic construction, by a specialised metal dental technician who is trained, experienced in the field and take note of extremely important factors such as, undercuts which, will either hinder or help anchor the appliance appropriately. It latter will undergo the procedure of adapting the acrylic body and dentition in their appropriate vertical dimension. In most cases metal partials are usually much thinner, more comfortable, more hygienic and stronger than acrylic partials. However, your dental prosthetist or denture practitioner will consult with you to determine which type of partial dental appliance will be more appropriate for your current circumstances.
 
Metal upper dentures can be made in horse shoe shape which cover the lingual side of the palat runner closer to the anterior to the posterior of the natural teeth, or in 'H' pattern where it free's the anterior dentition from any contact by the metal appliance.
Four tooth partial, highly clasped, however highly stable.
Where there large spacing, or diastema between natural dentition the metal is specificly contured not to show through the finestra of natural dentition.
RPD’s are very comfortable to wear and will conform and function in accordance with the remaining natural dentition.
Metal partial dental appliances can accomedate a one tooth loss, all the way up to a multiple tooth loss as with the photograph below
Sometimes a removable partial dental appliance (RPD) is referred to as a bridge. Once again, this is the literal term. The term bridge for this application is incorrect, as a "bridge" is cemented into place over existing dentition or dental implants.
A four tooth anterior and x2 pre molar metal appliance
PARTIAL DENTURES: For some people, removable partial dental appliances are the most suitable option available for replacing extracted teeth. Partial dentures, aid chewing, prevent sagging of the cheeks and lips, and restore speech. When a patient has adapted to partial dentures they find the dentures as functional as natural teeth. Carefully designed to fit over a section of implants and/or natural dentition. Anchoring to abutments by either precision attachments or clasps. Precision attachments are usually set in individual crowns or bridges cemented onto the remaining abutments in the natural teeth or implants, holding partial dentures into their place.
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