Removable partial dentures can provide an effective solution when several upper or lower teeth are missing, but some sturdy teeth remain.
Partial dentures can fill the void left by individual missing teeth and multiple ones to restore the look and function of a complete smile. While rebuilding a complete smile, partial dentures will also stabilize the dentition and bite by preventing unwanted drifting of the adjacent and opposing remaining natural teeth.
Partial dentures typically achieve adequate retention and stability with clasps or precision attachments on the teeth adjacent to the edentulous areas (the spaces formerly occupied by the missing teeth).
As with full dentures, partial denture design and fabrication vary based on a patient’s specific needs. With advances in dental materials and technology, partial denture wearers have more options than ever before. Today, a partial denture’s supportive framework can be fabricated from various materials, including cast metal, flexible resins, and hybrid materials.