A partial denture is a removable appliance used to replace missing teeth. Partials help your remaining teeth stay in position, improve your ability to speak, and equally distribute chewing stress throughout the mouth. Its use is generally recommend for a patient who has too many teeth missing to properly support a fixed bridge, but who doesn't yet need full dentures. A partial denture holds artificial teeth in place with a base that saddles the gums, and retainers that clasp onto adjacent teeth. If partials are properly cared for, they can last as long as a fixed bridge. Their low cost also makes them advantageous to patients needing only one or two replacements of missing teeth. Maintaining a close fit is important in order to keep a partial functioning properly, so it should be checked at least once a year by a dentist. For more information about partials, consult a dentist in your area.
