Removable Partial Dentures
If you reside in the Carlisle, PA area and suffer from missing teeth, we can help with removable partial dentures. Partial dentures are replacement teeth, usually made of acrylic or porcelain. The artificial teeth are set into a plastic base colored to match your gums.
Uses for Partial Dentures
Like full sets of false teeth, partial dentures improve your ability to eat and speak normally. A partial denture also helps prevent remaining teeth from drifting into toothless gaps and altering your bite.
Metal Clasps or Precision Attachments?
Partial denture sets are removeable and attach to remaining teeth with metal clasps or key and lock precision attachments. Surviving teeth are often capped to make it easier to attach clasps. Not only do the crowns make it easier for attaching the dentures, the crowns also prevent damage from clasps or attachments.
Metal denture clasps are visible, and some people find them unsightly. Precision attachments, in contrast, are almost invisible. Precision attachments use a male and female housing in which the male housing attaches to the partial dentures, while the female housings are attached to bridgework or crowns on natural teeth. Precision attachments, while more cosmetically pleasing, are a more expensive dental service than metal denture clasps.
Partial Denture Fittings
Making partial denture sets requires several dental appointments to ensure the best possible fit. Existing teeth are carefully examined and crowned if necessary. Dr. Killian measures you jaw and takes a series of wax or plastic molds in the shape your dentures will take. He then chooses colors for the dentures that closely match your natural teeth and gums.
The final dental mold goes to a lab that produces your dentures, a process that takes several weeks. Once the partial denture is ready and can be fitted, additional follow-up appointments may be necessary to adjust the denture base for the best possible fit.
Living with Partial Dentures
Wearing partial dentures may feel odd at first. The dentures may feel heavy or loose, and you may produce more saliva in the first few weeks. Once your cheek muscles and tongue grow accustomed to the dentures, you should find wearing them becomes second nature. However, if your denture set causes sore gums, seems loose or feels too tight, call our office and we can arrange an adjustment.
If a denture set feels loose, some people try to set the dentures into place by biting down hard on them. Try to avoid this: biting can damage the set. If you think the set needs adjusting, come and see us: the clasps and metal framework in dentures are easily broken during do-it-yourself dental adjustments. In addition to biting down hard, eating very hard food, chewing fingernails or grinding teeth can also damage your dentures.
Proper oral hygiene remains important, especially when you have a partial denture set. Partial dentures need to be cleaned daily. Most toothpaste is too abrasive for artificial teeth, and will damage the denture set over time, which is why we recommend using special denture cleaning solutions. The set should also be cleaned with a soft bristle toothbrush.
It is important to also take care of the remaining teeth by brushing and flossing regularly. Brushing the gums, tongue and inner cheeks with a soft toothbrush helps control bacteria and stimulates saliva production, which helps cleanse the mouth.
Partial Dentures and other Dental Services
Removable partial dentures are just one dental service that restores missing teeth. Depending on your individual needs, we can also replace missing teeth with dental bridges or implants.
Partial Dentures in Carlisle, PA
Dr. Killian offers partial denture services including implant retained dentures in the Carlisle, PA area. Missing teeth can cause embarrassment, damage remaining teeth and make eating difficult. You do not have to live with these problems! We offer a full range of dental services to restore your teeth and brighten your smile.