Everything You Need to Know About Partial Dentures
If you're dealing with missing teeth, partial dentures offer multiple benefits that greatly improve your quality of life. Feeling self-conscious about missing teeth can take a toll on your self-esteem, but dentures give you a reason to smile confidently again.
At Dental Lab Direct, you can skip the dental visit and buy direct. Your dentures will be custom fit to your mouth in less than 5 minutes at home at a fraction of the cost of the dentist.
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What is a Partial Denture?
Partial dentures are removable dental appliances that replace one or multiple missing teeth in the upper or lower jaw. They are specially designed to fit around and blend in with the remaining natural teeth, filling the gaps left by the missing teeth.
Partial dentures offer several benefits:
- Improved chewing
- Enhanced speech
- Aesthetic improvement
- Support for remaining teeth
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Cleaning and Maintenance
Taking good care of partial dentures is essential to prolong their longevity.
Just like natural teeth, it's important to brush them every day to remove food and plaque. And whenever the denture is not in use, soak it in water or a quality cleaning solution to keep it in its original shape.
Remember, do not use toothpaste since it can be too harsh and damage your dentures.
Check out more tips for cleaning your partial dentures →
What are They Made Out Of?
Partial dentures come in three main materials: acrylic (the budget-friendly plastic used in dental flippers), flexible thermoplastic (soft, gum-colored, no metal), and metal-framework partials that anchor with clasps. Each has its own pros and cons, and the right pick depends on which teeth you're replacing and your budget.
Explore the pros and cons of different denture materials →
Tips for Eating
Getting used to eating with partial dentures can be a challenge. To ease the transition:
- Start with soft foods
- Take small bites
- Avoid biting with your front teeth
- Say no to sticky foods
What Are Partial Dentures with Metal Clasps?
The metal clasps serve as hooks that anchor onto the remaining natural teeth to hold the denture in place. Metal clasps offer more stability and durability due to the added support from the metal clasps.
Find out if these are right for you →
What is a Partial Denture Essix Retainer?
The Essix partial denture retainer is a great temporary solution during the healing period for recent extractions or the healing period after surgery or dental implants.
Flexible Partial Dentures
Flexible denture foundations are soft and transparent, allowing your natural gums to peek through. They are more comfortable and flexible because they are made from a high-tech thermoplastic material and do not require any clips or attachments to stay in place.
What is a Nesbit Flexible Partial Denture?
Nesbit is an ideal choice for those needing to replace just a single tooth. Since it fits on only one side of the mouth, the Nesbit flexible partial denture ensures a quick and easy adjustment period. Its design guarantees a comfortable fit, making the transition smooth and hassle-free. Day-to-day care is covered in cleaning and maintaining Nesbit partial dentures.
A Nesbit partial (also called a unilateral partial) sits on one side of the mouth and replaces 1 or 2 missing teeth there, which is what makes it smaller and faster to adjust to than a full-arch partial. Ours is made from the same flexible, gum-colored thermoplastic as our full flexible partials and costs $399, custom-made from your at-home impression.
Learn more about our Nesbit Partial Denture →
Metal vs. Metal Free
Metal-framework partials are the durability pick: the cast frame and clasps hold firm for years. Metal-free partials trade some of that rigidity for a lighter, more comfortable and natural-looking fit. Which one wins depends on where the gap is and how visible the clasps would be.
Your dream smile is within reach with Dental Lab Direct. Affordable and efficient, our three-step process ensures you'll be proudly showing off your improved smile in just 4 weeks.
If you need an affordable temporary option, a dental flipper is a lightweight acrylic appliance that can fill a gap quickly and comfortably.
How Much Do Partial Dentures Cost?
Direct from our lab, partial dentures start at $299 for an Essix partial, $399 for a Nesbit unilateral partial, $449 for an acrylic partial (flipper), and $549 for a flexible partial. Every price includes the at-home impression kit, and every appliance is custom-made from your own impression. The same appliances typically cost several times more through a dental office. For a line-by-line breakdown of what you pay for, see our partial dentures cost breakdown and the cost comparison guide.
FAQ: Partial Dentures
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What is a Nesbit partial?
A Nesbit is a small, one-sided (unilateral) partial denture that replaces 1 or 2 missing teeth on one side of the mouth, instead of wrapping around the whole arch. It's the smallest and most discreet partial. -
Is a Nesbit the same as a flipper?
Close cousins. A flipper is a light acrylic partial, often used as a temporary; a Nesbit is the one-sided version, usually in flexible material. Both pop in and out and both replace a small number of teeth. -
Are Nesbit partials safe to wear?
Yes, when they're custom-made to fit securely and you keep up regular dental checkups. The caution you may have read about applies to loose, ill-fitting one-sided appliances; a well-fitting custom Nesbit stays anchored. If yours ever loosens, stop wearing it and get it relined or remade. -
How much is a partial denture for 3 teeth?
From our lab, a flexible partial replacing several teeth is $549, and an acrylic version is $449, the price doesn't change per tooth. A 3-tooth partial from a dental office commonly runs $1,500 or more. See partial dentures cost without insurance for the full range. -
What do partial dentures look like?
Gum-colored base, natural-tooth replacements, and either invisible flexible grips or small clasps near the back teeth. The photos on this page show a front-teeth partial and a metal-clasp partial side by side.
