What About Partial Dentures…
Given the choice between having no teeth or wearing a full denture, the partial denture can be a better choice. Why? Because a well-made partial denture distributes the bite force onto the remaining teeth as much as possible, away from the bone. This requires the partial denture to be rigid, usually made of metal and specifically made to use the teeth as anchors and retention of the partial denture.
Just as with the full denture, the gum and bone underneath the partial recede away. Mix in time and the loss of bone could be huge. A partial denture must be carefully planned and delivered so that the patient can function with them and bone is preserved as much as possible. The goal of a partial is to stabilize tooth positions and to provide chewing surfaces to chew against. It is not as good as chewing on healthy natural teeth.
Here is a real surprise: 40% of partial dentures stay in drawers, worn not at all or just for special occasions. Frequently, a person can chew better without the partial denture!
Like a full denture, if you must choose a partial, get one customized by a real expert to fit very well. It should distribute bite force over as large an area as possible to decrease force on bone. This also means it very well may need far more time effort and expertise to get one well made. The goal of a well made partial is to provide chewing surfaces, stabilize the remaining teeth’s positions and minimize compressive force onto the bone. Remember that force on bone causes it to melt away over time.
