Regain Your Confidence With a Beautiful Smile
Missing teeth can impact your ability to speak, chew comfortably, and smile confidently. At Brown and Baran Family Dentistry in Wilmington and Seaford, DE, our experienced dentists, Dr. Paul Brown and Dr. Chris Baran provide custom partial dentures to restore your smile’s functionality and appearance.
Whether you’ve lost one or several teeth, our removable partial dentures offer a durable, comfortable, and cost-effective solution tailored to your needs. Call our Wilmington office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford office at (302) 536-7589 to learn more!
What Are Partial Dentures?
Partial dentures are removable dental appliances designed to replace missing teeth while preserving your remaining natural teeth. They consist of a gum-colored base, often made of acrylic or metal, with realistic-looking replacement teeth attached. These dentures are securely held in place using clasps that anchor to the healthy teeth, ensuring stability while eating or speaking.
Benefits of Partial Dentures
Choosing partial dentures provides a wide range of benefits, including:
- Restored Appearance: Partial dentures seamlessly fill gaps in your smile, creating a natural look.
- Improved Function: They allow you to chew food properly and speak without difficulty pronouncing certain words.
- Facial Support: By replacing missing teeth, partial dentures prevent the sagging of facial muscles, maintaining your natural facial shape.
- Affordability: Compared to dental implants or fixed bridges, partial dentures are often a more budget-friendly option for replacing missing teeth.
- Versatility: Available in various materials, such as cast metal partial dentures or flexible acrylic bases, partial dentures are customized to suit your oral health needs.
The Partial Denture Process at Wilmington & Seaford Offices
Getting partial dentures typically involves these steps:
- Consultation: During your initial appointment, Dr. Brown or Dr. Baran will assess your oral health, take impressions of your mouth, and discuss the best options for replacing your missing teeth.
- Preparation: If necessary, we’ll prepare your remaining teeth by reshaping them or addressing dental issues, like cavities.
- Trial Fitting: A wax or plastic model will be created for you to test the fit and appearance. Adjustments are made to ensure comfort and function.
- Final Placement: Once your partial dentures are ready, they will be carefully fitted, and any necessary refinements will be made to guarantee they fit properly.
- Follow-Up Appointments: We’ll schedule follow-ups to ensure your dentures feel comfortable and function as intended.
How to Care for Partial Dentures
To keep your partial dentures in excellent condition and maintain your oral health:
- Clean Daily: Brush your dentures with a soft-bristle denture brush and mild dishwashing liquid, hand soap, or a denture cleaner. Avoid abrasive toothpaste.
- Rinse After Eating: Remove food particles by rinsing your dentures after meals.
- Soak When Not Worn: Use a denture-soaking solution or plain water to keep your dentures moist and maintain their shape.
- Handle With Care: Clean your dentures over a folded towel to prevent damage if dropped.
- Avoid Certain Foods: Refrain from eating extremely sticky or hard foods that could damage your dentures.
Partial Dentures Candidacy
Factors to consider when determining candidacy for partial dentures include:
- Overall oral health: Candidates for partial dentures should have good oral health and healthy gums. If gum disease or other oral health issues are present, they should be addressed before considering partial denture treatment.
- Number of missing teeth: Partial dentures are designed to replace one or more missing teeth. If a person has lost a significant number of teeth, full dentures or implant-supported dentures may be a better option.
- Remaining teeth: There must be enough healthy remaining teeth to support the partial denture. The remaining teeth must also be strong enough to withstand the pressure of the dental restoration.
- Jawbone density: The jawbone must have sufficient density to support the partial denture. If the jawbone has deteriorated significantly, bone grafting or other procedures may be necessary before partial dentures can be considered.
- Patient’s ability to maintain oral hygiene: Partial dentures require proper cleaning and maintenance to prevent decay and gum disease. Patients must maintain good oral hygiene practices to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of their partial dentures.
To see if partial dentures are right for your oral health needs, contact our Wilmington office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford office at (302) 536-7589 to schedule a consultation.
Partial Denture Cost
While costs vary from patient to patient, partial dentures typically cost between $1,000 to $2,000. The following factors will influence how much your partial dentures will cost:
- Location: For example, dental care might be more expensive in urban areas compared to rural ones.
- Material: There are different types of materials used for partial dentures such as acrylic, metal, flexible (like Valplast), or a combination. Metal frameworks are usually more expensive than acrylic ones.
- Dentist’s Experience and Reputation: A well-known dentist with experience may charge more than someone just starting.
- Complexity of the Case: If the case is more complex and requires more adjustments or additional procedures, the cost may increase.
- Additional Treatments: Sometimes additional treatments or procedures, like tooth extractions or fillings, are needed in conjunction with the partial denture. This can add to the total cost.
- Dental Insurance: If you have dental insurance, it may cover some or all of the partial dentures cost. Check with your provider for details.
Frequently Asked Questions
On average, partial dentures can last five to 10 years or more with proper care and maintenance. The lifespan of your partial dentures will depend on several factors, including the quality of the materials used, how well you care for them, and how much wear and tear they undergo.
It may take some time to get used to speaking with partial dentures, but most people adjust quickly and without problems. You may notice some minor changes in your speech initially, such as a slight lisp, but these should improve with time and practice.
Schedule Your Consultation Today
At Brown and Baran Family Dentistry, we’re committed to restoring your smile with comfortable, natural-looking partial dentures. Call our Wilmington office at (302) 999-7600 or our Seaford office at (302) 536-7589 to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a healthier, more confident smile.
We proudly serve patients in Wilmington, Seaford, and the surrounding areas in Delaware.