What is a partial denture?
A removable partial denture replaces some of the teeth in one jaw. The replacement teeth sit in a base shaded to look like gum, and small clasps hold onto natural teeth near the gaps.
One partial can fill gaps in several places at once, and it holds the teeth around each gap where they are. Left empty, a gap lets the teeth beside it tip into the space and the tooth above or below drift toward it, which slowly changes the way your teeth meet.
Who is a partial denture right for?
A partial is often the practical choice when:
- Several teeth are missing in the same jaw, especially in different places.
- The teeth beside a gap are healthy and untouched, and you would rather not have them shaped for a bridge.
- Implants are ruled out by the bone or your health, or the cost would mean putting off treatment you need now.
- You want to avoid surgery.
How is a partial denture made and fitted?
It starts with an exam of your teeth, gums and bone. The teeth that will hold the clasps need to be sound, so decay and any gum disease are treated first. Sometimes one of those teeth needs a filling or a little reshaping so the partial can rest firmly on it.
Next come records of your mouth and your bite, and a shade to match your own teeth. Before the partial is finished there is a try-in, so you can check the fit and the look while changes are still easy.
When it goes in, we show you how to put it in and take it out, and ease anything that presses. Coming back to the office on Tazewell Street for adjustments is normal, not a sign that something went wrong.
What are the first weeks with a partial like?
A new partial feels bulky at first, and your tongue will keep finding it. Most of this settles with wear and practice:
- Sore spots where the base or a clasp presses. Come in and have them eased.
- Speech that sounds a little different for a while. Reading aloud at home helps.
- More saliva than usual, which settles.
- Chewing that takes practice. Start with soft food cut small, and chew on both sides at once.
- Putting it in. Guide it into place with your fingers rather than biting it down, which can bend a clasp.
How do you look after a partial denture?
Take it out to clean it every day, with a soft brush and a denture cleaner rather than toothpaste, which can scratch it. Hold it over a folded towel in case you drop it. At night, take it out and keep it in water or a soaking solution so it does not dry out.
The teeth that hold it need more care than before, not less. Plaque collects under the clasps, so brush those teeth carefully with the partial out and clean between them every day. Losing one of them to decay or gum disease can cost the partial its grip.
If it feels loose, bring it in rather than bending a clasp yourself, which can break it. When the gum under the base changes, a reline may be what refits it.
When a bridge or an implant is the better choice
A partial is not the right answer for everyone, and we will say so when something else would serve you better. If one tooth is missing and the teeth beside it already have large fillings or need crowns, a dental bridge fills the gap with a fixed tooth. If there is enough bone, a single tooth implant replaces the root too and leaves the neighboring teeth alone.
For several teeth in a row, an implant-supported bridge stays in without clasps and loads the bone where the implants sit, while the bone under a partial keeps slowly shrinking. It costs more, involves minor surgery and takes months. To compare every option, see replacing missing teeth.
What does a partial denture cost?
A partial usually costs less than a bridge or an implant. The fee depends on how many teeth it replaces, what it is made from and anything needed first, and you get a written estimate before anything is scheduled.
Most dental plans pay part of a denture as major treatment, though some will not pay to replace teeth that were missing before you joined. We file the claim for you; see insurance for the plans we work with. No dental insurance? Ask about the Virginia Dental Club.
Questions patients ask
Will people notice my partial denture?
It depends on where the gaps and clasps are. The replacement teeth are matched to your own and the clasps placed where they show least, though one near the front can show when you smile. We talk through where they will sit before the partial is made.
Can I eat normally with a partial denture?
With practice, most food is manageable. Start soft, cut food small and chew on both sides at once. Very sticky or very hard food can pull on the clasps or crack the base, so take care with it.
Should I sleep with my partial in?
No. Take it out at night so your gums get a rest, and keep it in water or a soaking solution so it does not dry out. Night is also a good time to brush the teeth it clips onto.
Can a partial denture damage my teeth?
The bigger risk is plaque rather than the partial itself. Plaque collects under the clasps and where the partial rests, and left there it causes decay and gum trouble around those teeth. A partial that has gone loose can also rock and strain them, so have the fit checked if it changes.