Partial Dentures

Partial Dentures are made to replace missing teeth in an arch where there is also one or more natural tooth remaining. They are generally held in place by small wires called clasps, which attach to the remaining natural teeth. Several materials are available for partial dentures, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. 

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Acrylic Partials

Made from the same acrylic as full dentures, these are the cheapest and most basic partial denture. Acrylic partials are generally held in place by wrought stainless steel clasps which are embedded in the acrylic. They are easily modifiable if the patient is to lose more teeth, and can be a good option as a temporary denture or if there are teeth with an uncertain prognosis, however they often place more pressure on gums as they are not as effective at bracing against the remaining teeth

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Metal Partials (cobalt/chrome) 

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Metal Partial Dentures are made with acrylic teeth attached to a cast metal base, and generally represent the best outcome possible with removable prosthetics. Due to their strength they can be made significantly thinner than acrylic partials, and generally fit more firmly due to their rigidity and greater support from remaining teeth. They can also be much more time consuming to modify if there is further tooth loss, as they will often need to be sent to a specialist lab for welding. 

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Flexible Partials

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Flexible partials can be a great aesthetic option, however they are only suited to certain cases and are generally not as functional as other partial dentures. They are also very difficult to modify, as we can not effectively bond any new material to them.

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