Partial Dentures
Removable Partial Dentures are made when some natural teeth remain and some teeth are missing. They latch onto the remaining gum line and any intact adjacent teeth. The remaining teeth (if considered healthy by a dentist) are used as “anchors” for retention to keep a partial denture in place. It may be necessary to get an oral health certificate from your dentist to confirm the condition of the remaining teeth. Partial dentures can be made from acrylic, nylon or metal.
Acrylic
Acrylic partial dentures are the lowest costing dentures and because of the ease of repair, reline or modification, are generally advised when false teeth may need to be added to the denture due to ongoing tooth loss. Most acrylic dentures have metal wires (or clasps) for retention, but are not always necessary or they may be tooth coloured instead.
Flexible - Nylon
Flexible partial dentures are made from thermoplastic nylon. They are flexible, translucent, and require no metal retainers. They may have clear or tooth coloured resin retainers if needed. Nylon dentures cannot be added onto, nor can they be repaired.
Cast Metal
Cast metal partial dentures are thinner and smaller in the mouth and offer great strength, stability and support for remaining teeth. They are more expensive than acrylic and nylon options. They are designed so that they transfer bite forces to your remaining natural teeth, rather than your gums. Metal partial dentures can be repaired, relined or added to but welding may be required to ensure the best result, which means sending the denture off site for up to 12 working days.