Flexible Partial Dentures in Richton MS
We have plenty of options to help you replace missing teeth.
One option that continues to be popular – especially with recent updates in technology – is partial dentures.
Today’s partial dentures offer greater flexibility, increased comfort, and a more natural look. They are a great choice for anyone who needs to replace multiple teeth and would like to explore options other than dental implants.
What Is a Partial Denture?
When you think of dentures, you probably visualize complete dentures, a full set of replacement teeth that replaces all the teeth on either your upper or lower arch. If you have missing teeth but your remaining teeth are still healthy, however, you don’t want to remove your healthy teeth in order to use a full denture!
This is where partial dentures come in.
The individual teeth, which are custom crafted to blend in flawlessly with your other teeth, are set into a metal or gum-colored resin base and held in place using clips that fit around your other teeth. This allows you to fill in gaps for more comfortable chewing and smiling while retaining your existing healthy teeth.
Why Replace Missing Teeth?
This probably seems like an obvious question, but it’s worth exploring. The truth is that missing teeth have both oral health and social consequences, and both of these should be addressed to improve or restore your quality of life.
When teeth go missing, the other teeth have a tendency to tip toward the gap. This knocks your bite out of alignment and sets off a chain reaction of other problems. A misaligned bite leads to:
- Pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint
- Excess wear on teeth
- Cracking and fracturing
- Clenching and grinding
Eventually, the result will likely be additional lost teeth. As you lose teeth, you also lose periodontal bone. We want to keep this process to a minimum.
As you may have already observed, missing teeth carry a strong stigma in our society. If you are missing teeth, people may make unfair and untrue assumptions about you, and this can result in you missing out on professional and personal opportunities.
Your smile is your signature and your calling card. It’s a window into who you are. You owe it to yourself to present the best possible version of yourself so you can attain the success you deserve.
Planning for Partials
If you are missing teeth, please call Richton Dental Care today. We will set up a consultation with Dr. Darby so he can assess your oral health and review your options with you.
Once you and Dr. Darby have decided on partial dentures, he will perform any treatment necessary to improve your dental health (such as periodontal therapy or removing seriously damaged teeth). Once this is complete, we will take impressions. These impressions, along with digital photographs and Dr. Darby’s specific instructions, will be used by the lab to custom craft your partials.
When your partials return from the lab, we will call you back to our office so you can try on the appliance and see how it fits and feels. Once you and Dr. Darby are happy with the appearance and fit of the partial denture, you are all set!
Dr. Darby will give you instructions for wearing, storing, and cleaning the partial denture. If you ever have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to call!
Frequently Asked Questions
Dentures are much like cars. Some people replace their cars because they want a better or prettier one. Others replace cars when the car starts getting worn down and not working as well as it did brand new. Many people will even wait until their car breaks down and is no longer functioning to decide it's time for a new model. Dentures are the same way.
Dr. Darby recommends replacing a denture every 5 to 10 years. Over time, the mouth with no teeth will change shape and the denture will no longer fit as comfortably as they once did. Also, while dentures are made from strong materials, it is still plastic, and plastic does wear down and break. When the teeth and denture wears down, wrinkles become more prominent, the lips and cheeks sink in, and the overall face seems to shrink giving an older appearance. A new set of dentures can add vitality to your face and to your smile.
Yes, your smile will look natural.
Many cheaper dentures have teeth only come in one or two colors with only three or four sizes of teeth. Also, the gums are bright pink and flat which adds to the phony appearance. While these dentures can pass muster for quick smile between strangers, friends and family will be able to notice the fakeness. The teeth will look like unnaturally straight and monotone chiclets that stick out from the gums.
Dr. Darby will customize your denture not only to fit your mouth but find the right size and shape of teeth so that your smile does not look "generic." The newer denture teeth can have a similar shine and color as natural teeth and the gums can be matched to look like your own gums. Also, most people don't realize that straight or "perfect" teeth don't always look the most natural on everyone. Sometimes it's the imperfections that make a smile unique and real. Dr. Darby gives his patients the option between perfectly straight "Hollywood" teeth or a more natural appearance. We create dentures that will make you feel good about the way you look. Patients leave our office smiling with their new dentures!
It takes lots of practice. Dentures require some breaking in like a new pair of shoes. It is normal to be sore for the first few days as your gums acclimate to the new prosthesis. Many people return once or twice to Dr. Darby in the first week for small adjustments to remove pressure spots where the gums are irritated. After this initial week, then practice becomes important. Dr. Darby recommends daily practice sessions of talking and of eating to learn how to wear the dentures.
Talking with Dentures
The best way to learn how to talk with dentures are to pick up your favorite book or newspaper and simply read aloud to yourself. It is normal to have a slight lisp when you are first adjusting to your dentures but it will go away will practice. While many patients will quickly master speaking with their dentures, occasionally some wearers take more time.
Eating with Dentures
The biggest mistake people make when they wear their dentures for their first meal is to go eat a po boy or a steak. These foods are literally too tough to learn how to chew properly. Starting with these foods is like trying to run a marathon on your first day of exercise in a long time. The best foods to practice eating are foods that can be easily cut with a plastic spoon. Dr. Darby recommends foods like eggs, red beans and rice, fish, spaghetti, and bananas. Learning how to eat right with dentures is a slow process and may take a few weeks or months to master well. Keep practicing each day.
Our Team
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Nicholas Darby DDS
Dr. Nicholas Darby was born and raised in Senatobia, MS, where he was a graduate from Senatobia High School. Dr. Darby received his undergraduate degree in biology from Louisiana Tech University. While enrolled at Louisiana Tech, he was a member of the Bulldog football team. After graduating from Louisiana Tech, he attended LSU School of Dentistry and received his DDS degree in 2008.
Since 2008, Dr. Darby has been practicing general and family dentistry in Mississippi and is now excited to be serving the town of Richton and all surrounding communities. ...
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