Partial Dentures Vs Dental Bridges

Dental bridges and partial dentures are often confused with one another. They are both used to fill in a gap where your natural teeth would be. The choice of which to use in your case will depend on your personal preferences and the recommendation of your dentist. There are some differences between the two that you should know about prior to making the decision of which you may want.

Partial Dentures

Partial dentures are used to replace a few missing teeth. They go in and out of your mouth on a daily basis, unlike bridges that are cemented into place. Partials are secured to your natural teeth using either clasps or “interproximal retention” meaning they use the spaces between your teeth to stay in place. They are also different from bridges because partials most often have both artificial teeth as well as pick acrylic gums, while bridges are only artificial teeth.

While there is the option to have flexible acrylic partials, we do not make these in our office.  Flexible partials can be damaging to your natural tissue and teeth causing more harm.  If you happen to lose any additional natural teeth, they cannot be added to your existing flexible partial, a new one will need to be made at full expense.  You also cannot repair a flexible partial as they will not bond with new acrylic - if a tooth breaks off or you break it in half you need a new one. 

Dental Bridges

Dental bridges are quite similar to partial dentures. They serve the same purpose but do so in a different manner. Unlike dentures, bridges only consist of the tooth portion, and are made of fired porcelain as opposed to acrylic. There are no artificial gums with them. They are more permanent as they are cemented in place while dentures are removable. Bridges use crowns on either side of the replacement teeth to secure the unit in place.

Contact Us Today to Learn More About Partial Dentures!

At Smile Again Dentures, we provide partial dentures to the Lewiston, ME area. Partial dentures are a great option that allows you to have a full smile once again. They are removable and are secured to your natural teeth via a clasps. If you are interested in getting partial dentures, you can speak with our Denturist today to learn more about them. We will discuss whether they are right for you, payment options, and if your insurance covers any of the costs.