When you have lost all of your teeth, we could provide a full denture. But what if you have several missing teeth across your smile, but not enough to want a complete denture? In these situations, your Kansas City, MO, dentist could treat your complicated case of tooth loss with a lifelike partial denture.
Complicated Cases of Tooth Loss
When you have several missing teeth in a row, we could place a dental bridge. But what if you have multiple gaps of several teeth and they’re spread out across your smile? These could be too complicated for a bridge to handle, and you still have enough healthy teeth that a full denture isn’t necessary either. Which is why a partial denture is often the right choice. This prosthetic contains new teeth set in a base made from acrylic. The base will look like gum tissue, while the teeth will be crafted from ceramics and shaded to blend with the smile. The prosthetic rests on the dental ridge and is held in place with metal clasps that attach to natural teeth.
Creating a Custom and Comfortable Prosthetic
To create one, we gather detailed digital images and x-rays of your smile, and use them to craft a 3D computer impression, one that helps us design and create the prosthetic that looks natural, fits comfortably, and blends alongside natural teeth. The prosthetic will be worn daily but removed at night for cleaning and soaking. They tend to last about five years before requiring replacement as the shape of the jaw ridge changes with time following tooth loss.
Protecting Your Smile
You will clean and soak it to keep it strong. But you can also take steps to safeguard your natural teeth too. You should continue to brush and floss these teeth daily to prevent issues like tooth decay or even gum disease, so you maintain your remaining natural teeth. Also, be sure to see us for a checkup and cleaning every six months. These visits let us keep a close eye on your natural teeth and protect them, so you can smile with confidence for years to come.
If you have any questions about how we treat tooth loss, or about the process of designing and crafting a tooth replacement, then let us know. In addition to partials, we can discuss full dentures, custom bridges, and even advanced implant dentistry.
Your Kansas City, MO, Dentist Offers a Custom Dental Prosthetic
Our team is eager to tackle your tooth loss and restore your smile with a prosthetic that looks great and also fits comfortably. If you would like to learn about filling the gaps in your smile, then contact your Kansas City, MO, dentist, Dr. Murphy, by calling (816) 531-8000.
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