Partial Dentures for Back Teeth
Restore Your Back Teeth
If you are missing back teeth, finding the right replacement can greatly improve your daily comfort and overall oral health. Removable partial dentures for back teeth are specifically designed to replace missing molars, providing a comfortable and functional solution.
At Cedar Grove Dental Group in Cedar Grove, we offer removable partial dentures for back teeth as one of our teeth replacement options. Our experienced dentists can discuss this option with you and help you determine the best solution for your needs. Many patients have found that denture arches for back teeth are an affordable way to restore dental function and maintain facial appearance.
Don't let missing back teeth affect your comfort, confidence, and oral health. Discover how denture arches for back teeth can enhance your quality of life. Contact us at (973) 857-0567 to schedule an appointment and learn more about your options.
Removable Partial Dentures: A Guide to Their Functionality
Removable partial dentures typically consist of realistic-looking tooth replacements attached to a flesh-colored base that is custom-shaped to fit the patient's gums. To create these dentures, the dentist first takes an impression of the mouth using a flexible material like alginate, which hardens to provide a mold of the gums for the base.
Unlike fixed options like bridges or implants, removable dentures can be easily removed for overnight wear and cleaning after meals, making them simpler to maintain. However, because the shape of the gums and jawbone can change over time, adjustments may be needed periodically to ensure a comfortable fit.
"Removable partial dentures typically include realistic tooth replacements attached to a base that matches the color of the patient's gums."
Getting Partial Dentures Process
The process of getting removable partial dentures for back teeth involves a few simple steps. We begin by taking an impression of the teeth and gums in order to curate the dentures to fit and match the surrounding area. Patients with any extractions may need to wait out the healing period before taking an impression. The impression is then sent to a lab that creates the custom-made dentures before the patient’s next visit.
Since dentures replace missing teeth, there is still a chance that the mouth changes through tooth movement. This can cause other teeth to shift, become loose, or feel uncomfortable. We can make any adjustments to the dentures as needed to ensure the dentures are fitting well and the surrounding teeth, gums, and bone are intact.
"We start by creating a mold of the teeth and gums to customize the dentures for a perfect fit that blends seamlessly with the rest of the mouth."
Benefits of Removable Partial Dentures for Molars
The American College of Prosthodontists reports that up to 120 million Americans have at least one missing tooth. Removable partial dentures are often the preferred solution for many individuals in this situation. Specifically for those missing back teeth, dentures can offer the following advantages:
- Promotion of oral health. Dentures prevent adjacent teeth from moving out of place, as they tend to do when there are missing teeth. By keeping the configuration of the teeth close to normal, dentures reduce the risk of severe bone and gum problems developing later. Furthermore, when the remaining natural teeth maintain their position, there is a lessened chance of bone loss and cavities.
- Comfort chewing and speaking. After a short adjustment period, most patients can talk and chew normally with denture arches for back teeth. Molars perform the critical function of grinding down food for proper digestion and nutrition absorption. Dentures offer an effective solution for performing this function after the loss of one or more molars.
- Enhanced appearance. Although back teeth are not readily visible, their absence can affect appearance. Missing molars can result in a shrunken facial shape and atrophy of some facial muscles. Partial dentures prevent this from happening by maintaining the normal shape of the face.
"The American College of Prosthodontists reports that up to 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth, according to statistics."
Other Options for Replacing Back Teeth
In addition to partial dentures for back teeth, patients may consider other solutions for missing molars. Each has its advantages and disadvantages. The right choice for any individual patient depends on specific factors such as medical history, oral health, personal preferences, budget, and more. The dentists at Cedar Grove Dental Group help each patient can find the most effective option for you.
Implants are a popular teeth-replacement method. They have the advantage of being permanent, barring later complications. Implants also look and feel natural. However, their relatively high cost can make them impracticable for some. Implants also involve minor surgery and can necessitate bone grafts. Some health conditions can inhibit proper healing. For instance, an article reviewing study data in the International Journal of Implant Dentistry found that poorly controlled diabetes increases the risks of complications and implant failure.
Permanent bridges are another option for replacing the back teeth. This solution is possible if there are natural teeth or implants on both sides of the missing tooth. While there exists a cantilever bridge that attaches to one tooth, dentists prefer not to use it to replace the back teeth, as they take more pressure than a bridge should support.
