No one wants to walk around with a tooth-sized gap (or more!) in their front teeth. If you find yourself in this situation, consider getting partial dentures for front teeth to close the gap in your teeth.
How do partial dentures for front teeth work?
Partial dentures for front teeth are used when a tooth is damaged, knocked out, or otherwise unable to be saved because of trauma or decay. Leaving a gap in your smile is not only challenging for your self-confidence. Remaining teeth will naturally begin to shift to fill the gap, potentially creating small gaps between all of the teeth. This, in turn, throws off the alignment of your bite, which can cause other dental issues.
To replace one or more missing teeth, partial dentures are custom-made artificial teeth attached to a frame. This frame is then placed in the mouth, attached either to healthy teeth on either side of the gap or in another manner that resembles a retainer.
There are other ways to replace a missing front tooth or teeth. Some patients opt for dental implants inserted directly into the jawbone. This is a great option for patients with plenty of healthy jawbone remaining. However, if your missing tooth is due to periodontal disease that has affected the jawbone, an implant may not work.
What do partial dentures look like?
Deciding what to do about a missing tooth can be difficult.
On one hand, having one or more missing teeth in the middle of your smile can make you feel self-conscious. On the other, no one wants to walk around with fake-looking teeth. Making the decision to get partial dentures can be challenging. After all, your smile is the first thing people see. It is normal to feel concerned about the appearance of partial dentures for front teeth.
There is good news here, though.
These days, partial dentures are made of all types of materials, many of which are virtually indistinguishable from your natural teeth. The teeth attached to the partial denture framework are custom fabricated to match your natural teeth as closely as possible. A cosmetic dentist like AZ Dentist is able to fit you with a great looking temporary denture while your individual partial denture is fabricated.
We know what it’s like to worry about your appearance. We want to help you preserve not only your beautiful smile but also your dental health. With partial dentures for front teeth, you can restore your beautiful, healthy smile discreetly.
What are the different types of partial dentures for front teeth?
Whether you are looking for partial dentures for bottom front teeth, partial dentures for upper back teeth, or upper partial dentures, chances are good that there is a solution.
There are different types of partial dentures for teeth, generally classified by material and function.
The three types of material are:
- Cast metal partial dentures
- Flexible partial dentures
- Tooth flipper
Cast metal partial dentures
These partial dentures are made of both metal and acrylic. The metal frame holds the replacement teeth and has clasps that are connected to crowns.
Gum-colored acrylic hides the metal frame, but the clasps may be visible when the partial denture is snapped in place.
Flexible partial dentures
These dentures are made all in one piece that snaps in between teeth.
Lightweight and comfortable, the nylon material is easy to tolerate for most patients. Natural teeth do not need to be altered, and there are no visible clasps or metal parts.
Tooth flipper
A tooth flipper replaces a single missing tooth with a natural and minimally invasive look. The artificial tooth is attached to a retainer. In some cases, your cosmetic dentist will use a tooth flipper temporarily while a more permanent, customized partial denture is made.
Removable vs. fixed partial dentures
Partial dentures for front teeth can also be classified as to whether or not they are removable or fixed.
Removable dentures are formed on a plastic or metal base and can be popped in and out of the mouth as needed. The attachments circle existing healthy teeth on either side of the gap being filled by the denture, and the denture itself snaps into these attachments. This is a type of cast metal partial denture, with the attachments usually visible.
Precision attachment dentures are removable dentures that are very stable in the mouth. This type of partial denture uses two parts, snapped together, to keep them stable in the mouth. Made of metal, plastic, or some combination of both, precision-attachment partial dentures anchor to a crown on either side of the gap.
The “male” part of the precision-attachment denture is located on the crown, and the “female” part is affixed to the removable partial denture. When snapped in place, these affordable dentures appear natural and function just as normal teeth.
Fixed dentures are also sometimes called implant-supported dental bridges. This type of denture uses implants installed directly into the jaw to attach the denture. Some fixed dentures are also attached to crowns.
Although they are the most stable type of partial denture, implant-supported dentures require healthy bone to support the implant. Additionally, this surgical procedure takes several office visits and can take up to seven months to heal completely.
Who are good candidates for partial dentures?
If you are missing one or more teeth, you are a good candidate for partial dentures.
As outlined above, the chief concern with a fixed or removable partial denture is the overall dental health of the patient’s remaining teeth and jaw. Fixed, implant-supported partial dentures require underlying good dental health and a strong jawbone to work. On the other hand, removable partial dentures that use precision attachments can be just as stable but without the surgery.
Another consideration is cost. While prices vary wildly depending on geography and a dentist’s experience, expect to pay less for a tooth flipper that may be temporary to a high end of a few thousand dollars for cast metal partial dentures. Insurance may not cover all of the cost of partial dentures, especially if they determine that the procedure is largely cosmetic.
If you are missing one or more of your front teeth and need help examining all of your options, give AZ Dentist a call. We can help bring your smile back!
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