Is a Partial Denture the Same As a Bridge?
The gaps caused by missing teeth will cause you to experience a myriad of dental issues, ranging from difficulty eating or speaking to bone loss or changes in the positioning of your teeth. Let’s not even talk about what will happen to your appearance!
For this reason, you need to get a tooth replacement option to ensure that you don’t have to deal with the issues that come with missing teeth. The only problem you might have is choosing the right one since our dentist in Knoxville has a variety of options.
On the one hand, you might be wondering if going for a dental bridge near you would be appropriate for you. On the other hand, there are partial and dentures, and now you will have a real problem in your hands trying to figure out which one is best in your scenario.
Without further ado, let’s check both of them out.
Partial Denture and Its Benefits
Partial dentures in Knoxville have been around for so many years. They are comprised of artificial teeth that are attached to gum-colored material. Our dentist in Knoxville will customize your partial dentures so that they fit snugly and comfortably in your mouth.
Partial dentures are removable, making it easier to clean them and wear them when you need to.
The artificial teeth are made from hard resin, but they are not as strong as your natural teeth. Therefore, you can expect to replace them after some years.
The gum-colored material is also made from hard resin. But others are made from flexible polymer since this material makes the dentures fit perfectly over the gums.
Partial dentures come with tons of benefits, including:
- They prevent the other teeth from shifting
- They will maintain the mouth structures, including the gums and jawbone
- They are a cost-effective tooth replacement option
- They are minimally invasive
- They restore the function of your teeth and dental aesthetics
- They are an excellent option for people who still have some of their natural teeth
- They are easy to clean
The Dental Bridge and Its Utilities
The dental bridge is also another common tooth replacement option. It is made of two parts, a false tooth or pontics and two crowns. The crowns are attached on either side of the false tooth and are the ones that hold it in place. The false tooth is the one that fills the gap.
The major issue about getting dental bridges is having strong and healthy teeth adjacent to the gap. The reason is simple. Your natural teeth are used as anchors, which hold the dental bridge in place.
The false tooth can be made from porcelain or a combination of other materials. The crowns attached to the false tooth can be made from porcelain or zirconia.
There are four types of bridges: traditional bridges, Maryland bridges, implant-supported bridges, and cantilever bridges.
Irrespective of the dental bridge you choose, you will enjoy the following benefits:
- They are stable and will not fall out
- They are excellent for fixing small gaps created by having one or two missing teeth
- They are natural-looking
- They are great for filling multiple gaps located on the same side of the mouth
An essential thing to note is that dental bridges are sometimes known as fixed partial dentures.
What’s the Difference Between Them?
One of the glaring differences between partial dentures and bridges is how they look like. Partial dentures have artificial teeth that have been attached to a gum-colored base. Dental bridges are made entirely of artificial teeth and crowns.
Partial dentures are attached using precision attachments or clasps that clip to your natural teeth. On the other hand, bridges have crowns attached to your natural teeth.
Besides their structural differences, each is more suited to dealing with specific scenarios. For instance, partial dentures are great if you have lost several teeth in a row. But if you don’t have a tooth or two, then a bridge will be the better option.
Additionally, partial dentures are removable, so it is easy to clean them. You also remove them when you are going to bed. Dental bridges are permanently bonded onto your teeth, and only your dentist can remove them.
The Takeaway
Bridges and partial dentures are both great tooth replacement choices. If you are still contemplating which option would work for you, contact us at Knoxville Dental Associates, and we would love to help you.