Are you missing some, but not all, of the teeth in one or both jaws? If you’re ready to solve that problem, you have three choices with pros and cons: dental implants, traditional partial dentures, and flexible partial dentures (FPD).
Flexible partial dentures are a type of denture with two primary features. First, they’re designed to replace some, but not all, your natural teeth on one arch. Second, they’re made from softer (thermoplastic materials like nylon) and more flexible than traditional dentures, usually made of porcelain, resin, and chrome. These softer and more flexible materials mean that flexible partial dentures are more comfortable than traditional dentures and more attractive because they don’t require metal clasps or fasteners that appear on traditional partial dentures.
FPDs resemble, act like, and replace real and natural teeth that may be missing, whether those teeth are missing due to serious tooth decay, accidents, or injuries.
Getting flexible dentures in North Naples is a good solution for people missing two or more teeth in the same section of their mouth and looking for something more comfortable than traditional partial dentures. Compared to dental implants, flexible partial dentures are far less invasive of an option for replacing missing teeth. They’re also an option for people who experience allergies to materials used to make traditional dentures. Because they’re made of more flexible materials than traditional dentures, flexible partial dentures often last longer than traditional dentures, they’re simply less likely to break due to their flexibility. To maximize the lifespan of your flexible dentures in North Naples, you should follow your dentist’s instructions about cleaning them daily and soaking them overnight to prevent and eliminate the accumulation of bacteria.
It would help if you didn’t think of this need to clean and soak your partially flexible dentures as a disadvantage compared to traditional dentures. After all, cleaning and soaking are essential steps in maintaining traditional dentures. On the other hand, dental implants offer the advantage of never having to be removed and soaked because they’re permanently rooted into your jaw. Still, they have the disadvantage of being a much more invasive solution than traditional or flexible dentures.
Today’s advanced titanium dental implants restore a larger range of your natural dental function than traditional or flexible dentures. Because the implants are rooted securely into your jaw, you can speak, eat and chew completely naturally. On the other hand, wearing either traditional or flexible dentures will restore the cosmetic losses associated with missing teeth and most dental functions. Still, many people experience lingering restrictions relating to eating and chewing.
Flexible partial dentures in North Naples may not be appropriate if you have loose teeth or expect to lose more soon. Once FPDs are prepared, more teeth can not be added later. On the other hand, additional teeth can be added to transitional or temporary partial dentures made out of traditional materials. If you expect to lose more teeth soon, dentures made from traditional materials may be a better option than a partially flexible denture.
No blog article can help you decide whether flexible dentures are right for you and your dental needs. To get an answer to that question, you should arrange an appointment with a dental clinic in North Naples, where staff will review the condition of your teeth, gums, and jaw to assess your best options for replacing your missing teeth.