When most people think of a denture, they envision a removable appliance that replaces all of the teeth on either the upper or lower arch. However, the number of people in Canada who are missing all of their teeth has declined – from 17% of the population in 1990 to 6.4% in 2009. And as the numbers of denture wearers in Canada has remained relatively consistent over the years, this tells us that we are seeing more and more people wearing partial dentures.
A partial denture is an appliance that replaces missing teeth when some natural teeth remain on that arch. For many patients, a partial denture is worn to improve their smiles by filling in the gaps presented by missing teeth. In addition to the obvious aesthetic improvements, there are several important benefits these patients achieve by wearing a partial denture.
Prevent shifting of natural teeth
Partial dentures maintain proper contact between upper and lower teeth as well as spacing between existing natural teeth. This helps to prevent tooth shifting which can lead to serious, harder-to-fix problems like malocclusion and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder.
Improve function and chewing abilities
A partial denture supports and works in harmony with an existing denture and any remaining teeth to ensure normal chewing function and efficiency and to prevent additional tooth loss.
Without back teeth, you will be forced to chew using only your front teeth. Front teeth are designed for biting and tearing, not chewing; the force of chewing puts too much strain on front teeth and can weaken them. By having back teeth to chew on, your front teeth will last longer and your digestion will be improved.
Restoring your mouth to its natural state and replacing all missing teeth will also prevent unnecessary stress on weakened natural teeth which can lead to further tooth loss.
Stabilize a complete upper denture
Lower back teeth are essential to stabilize an upper denture.
When biting or eating without back teeth, your upper denture can drop down or dislodge. This causes problems with denture comfort, function, and fit.
Often, patients in this situation think that their upper denture needs to be refitted and they request a reline. Unfortunately, if you are missing your lower back teeth, a reline may not provide you with any improvement in comfort or fit.