Partial Dentures

About Partial Dentures in Lancaster, PA

There are two types of dentures:

• Complete dentures are utilized when all the patient’s teeth are missing.
• Partial dentures are the optimal choice when some of the patient’s natural teeth remain.

WebMd describes a denture as a, “removable replacement for missing teeth and surrounding tissues.” The operative words here are “removable replacement.”

Removable partial dentures, also called a bridge, consist of replacement teeth “attached to a pink or gum-colored plastic base, which is connected with a metal framework that holds the denture in place in the mouth.” One or more teeth must be present in the upper or lower jaw to allow for a partial denture or bridge.

The fixed or permanent bridge is designed to replace one or more teeth by placing dental crowns on the teeth on either side of the space. Artificial teeth are then attached to the crowns. At that point, the bridge is cemented in place.

In this way, the partial denture fills in the spaces created by missing teeth. A definite advantage of partial dentures is that other teeth are prevented from shifting their position, a condition that can lead to more serious problems.

“Precision partial dentures are removable ad feature internal attachments rather than clasps that attach to adjacent crowns.” These are the most natural looking partial dentures.

Insurance and Partial Dentures

Most dental insurance plans cover at least a share of the cost of partial dentures. Some plans offer 100 percent coverage.

Other Options

The most popular choice other than partial dentures are dental implants. Dental implants offer a choice of a permanent solution by providing a stable implant that can be cemented for a permanent bridge.

Dental implants are expensive and are not usually covered by most dental insurance plans. While this is the most popular choice, not all persons are able to receive dental implants.