Partial Dentures for Back Teeth
Coronado, CA
Getting the right replacement for missing back teeth can make daily life more comfortable. Dentists also recommend teeth replacements as a way to maximize oral health after tooth loss. Removable partial dentures for back teeth are dentures designed to replace missing molars; they consist of teeth replacements attached to an acrylic base.
Removable partial dentures for back teeth are available at Coronado Dentistry & Pediatrics in Coronado and the surrounding area. Our dentists are available to discuss this and other teeth replacement options. Many patients find denture arches for back teeth an affordable way to maintain dental function and facial appearance.
Replacing missing back teeth is vital to your comfort, confidence, and dental health. Find out how denture arches for back teeth can improve your quality of life. Call us at (619) 354-5136 to make an appointment.
How Removable Partial Dentures Work
Generally, removable partial dentures consist of natural-looking tooth replacements connected to a flesh-colored base shaped to fit the patient's gums. Before making the dentures, the dentist uses an elastic material such as alginate to take an impression of the mouth. The material then solidifies, providing an outline of the gums to create the base.
In contrast to fixed solutions, such as bridges or implants, removable dentures can be taken out overnight and for cleaning after meals. As a result, many find them easier to clean thoroughly. However, as the shape of the gums and jawbone often changes gradually after extraction, it is normal to need occasional adjustments for a proper fit.
“Generally, removable partial dentures consist of natural-looking tooth replacements connected to a flesh-colored base shaped to fit the patient’s gums.”
Process of Getting Partial Dentures
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 begin by taking an impression of the teeth and gums in order to curate the dentures to fit and match the surrounding area.”
Benefits of Removable Partial Dentures for Back Teeth
According to statistics cited by the American College of Prosthodontists, as many as 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth. Removable partial dentures are the solution of choice for many of them. For those who are missing back teeth, dentures can provide the following benefits:
- 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.
“According to statistics cited by the American College of Prosthodontists, as many as 120 million Americans are missing at least one tooth.”
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 Coronado Dentistry & Pediatrics 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.
“The right choice for any individual patient depends on specific factors such as medical history, oral health, personal preferences, budget, and more.”
Questions Answered on This Page
Frequently Asked Questions
New patients and emergency appointments welcome
Denture Terminology
Alveolar Bone
The alveolar bone is the bone surrounding the root of the tooth that keeps the tooth in place.
Clasp
A clasp is a device that holds a removable partial denture prosthesis to the teeth.
Denture Base
The denture base is the part of the denture that connects the artificial teeth with the soft tissue of the gums.
Edentulous
Edentulous is a term that applies to people who do not have any teeth.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is a condition that causes inflammation of the gingival tissues and membrane of the teeth, leading to tooth loss without professional treatment.
Pontic
Pontic is another term for an artificial tooth on a fixed partial denture.
Rebase
Rebase is the process of refitting denture prosthesis by replacing the base material.
Reline
Reline is when a professional resurfaces the surface of the prosthesis with a new base material.
Resin/Acrylic
Resin and Acrylic are resinous materials that can be components in a denture base.
Stomatitis
Stomatitis is the inflammation of the tissue that is underlying a denture that does not fit properly. It can also result from other oral health factors.