Removable Partial Dentures for Affordable Replacements

An important step in maintaining a healthy smile and bite is to replace missing teeth before surrounding teeth slip into the gap. Teeth that are out of position can damage tissues in the mouth. If you are missing only a single or just a few teeth, you might be a candidate for removable partial dentures (RPDs). Unlike a fixed prosthesis, RPDs are designed to remove and reinsert them when required. And unlike complete dentures, RPDs have clasps of metal or plastic that clip onto the remaining teeth. This makes them stable and long lasting.

Among the least expensive RPDs is the "flipper". This device essentially slips over existing teeth leaving space for them to fit alongside the newly designed teeth (e.g., photo above shows how four missing teeth leave spaces for seven natural teeth). Aside from its cost, a major advantage of this treatment is the manner in which new teeth and a denture base can easily be added to an existing RPD. A further advantage is the speed in which future tooth replacements can be accommodated. i.e., If an existing tooth needs to be extracted, an impression can be taken with the flipper in place. A new denture tooth can then placed in a single day.

As shown below, removable partial dentures attach to your natural teeth with metal clasps or devices called precision attachments. The replacement teeth are attached to pink or gum-colored plastic bases. Crowns on your natural teeth are usually required with the attachments in order to improve the overall fit of an RPD. Contact Dr. Sajoo for a free consultation on how this can be done.