Common Questions Answered About Partial Dentures

Our Oro Valley dental office provides partial dentures for patients that are missing some, but not all, of their teeth. This solution is ideal for those that need to retain their ability to eat and speak while also maintaining their appearance without the need for surgery. While we do offer dental implant surgery, we know that this solution is not right for everyone and with that in mind, a set of partials can be ideal. For those that have never lost teeth before, the thought of wearing a denture can be overwhelming with many questions to ask. With that in mind, here is what you need to know:

Can I eat like normal?

Not at first. It will take time to get used to eating while wearing them so take your time and don't worry if you experience some initial discomfort. However, once you are used to wearing them, you should be able to eat all of your favorite foods with the exception of nuts and other hard objects since they can damage your teeth and your denture may not be strong enough to withstand the damage. With this in mind, we recommend going slow and introducing new foods gradually. As you become more acquainted with you new set of teeth, you will be able to eat a wide variety of foods and may not even miss the hard or crunchy objects you had to give up.

What are partial dentures?

These serve to replace specific teeth and do so after a mold has been created of your teeth and gums. The laboratory will use the impression to create the base that your teeth will be secured to. Naturally looking, this serves as an anchor for replacing the lost teeth. The denture is then secured to the neighboring teeth for stability. In fact, it is often called a retainer with teeth because of the metal wires. Anyone that has straightened their teeth with braces will be familiar with the feeling of wearing a partial set since they can come in and out as needed.

Can I wear them 24/7?

No, partial dentures can be worn all day long if you rinse them and your mouth with water after eating. This is necessary for killing all of the germs and eliminating food particles that may have become stuck in strange placed while eating. Additionally, you have to take them out at night, or you may increase your risk of getting an infection along with your discomfort. Just be sure to soak them when you do.

Will this permanently replace my teeth?

That really depends on how old you are and the health of your gums and teeth. If you have only lost a few and have a relatively healthy mouth, your teeth and gums are likely to remain healthy. If, however, you have a lot of cavities or decay, we will probably plan on replacing all of your teeth with dentures in the first place. While this may help, our goal is to ensure that you have the best possible smile long-term and eventually you may need to replace this set with dental implants or a fixed bridge, if not a full set of dentures.

Call our dentist office at (520) 833-5100