Types of Partial Dentures

Partial dentures can be made from acrylic, light alloy metal/acrylic combination or the latest flexible acrylic like Valplast.

Light Alloy metal dentures are a good alternative to acrylic plastic dentures. They are made of medically-approved cobalt chrome alloy, or a hybrid of cobalt chrome alloy and nylon resin. Light alloy dentures have certain advantages: they are smaller, easier to clean so better for oral hygiene, light and strong, often they don’t cover the palate so allow for enjoyment of food and normal speech, and they can feel more comfortable in the mouth.

Flexible dentures are a new product similar to conventional acrylic dentures but with an important difference, because they’re flexible they can replace a small number of teeth and fill a gap without necessarily covering the palate. They are good for small to medium sized gaps and are easy to fit. However, they are usually just a temporary measure to be used whilst waiting for implants or a bridge.

A telescopic denture is stabilised by using at least two remaining, favourably positioned, teeth as anchors. They are prepared using ceramic caps which the denture snaps onto. This has very good aesthetic results and can be very stable whilst chewing, depending on the number of remaining teeth in a jaw.