Partial Dentures

How a Partial Denture Supports the Teeth You Still Have

A partial denture fills the gaps where teeth are missing and uses the teeth you still have to hold it in place. There are three common types, and what a partial is made from changes how it feels and how long it lasts.

1. Cast Metal Frame

A cast metal partial is built on a thin cobalt chrome frame with the replacement teeth set onto it. The alloy lets the frame stay slim and rigid, so it keeps its shape and spreads the load across several teeth rather than one. It is the usual choice where the partial is meant to be worn for years. Depending on where the clasps sit, a little metal can show when you smile.

2. Acrylic Partial Dentures

An acrylic partial is made entirely of acrylic and held by metal clasps. The material is impact-resistant but has to be thicker than a metal frame, so it can feel bulkier to wear. It is most often used as an interim appliance while you wait for something longer-term. If it is meant as a stepping stone, you will end up paying for two appliances, and we would rather say so at the start.

3. Flexible Partial Dentures

A flexible partial is made from a thin, heat-formed plastic rather than metal or rigid acrylic. It suits people who have reacted to those materials, and because the base blends with the gum there is no metal clasp on show. The trade-off is repair: the material does not take a reline easily, so damage usually means a new appliance rather than a fix.