“When should I replace my partials?”
I got partials 3 years ago. When should I replace my partials?
2 Answers
Partial dentures only need to be replaced if they no longer fit properly. The age doesn't matter.
A comfortable partial denture is like a good pair of comfortable shoes and breaking in a new partial can be like breaking in a new pair of shoes. So its not unusual for patients to hold on to their partials as long as they can. Two things happen to partials as they age. One, the acrylic teeth wear down at a faster rate than natural teeth and two, the edentulous ridge (bone where teeth are gone) resorbs away with time leaving space between the denture and your gums. Both of these issues jeopardize the teeth that support the denture. Long story short, a dental examination would be needed to determine if the fit is still healthy or not. I would say, typically replace every 5-10 years. Hope this helps. Mary Swift DDS Dr. Mary SwiftDallas Laser Dentistrywww.dallascosmeticdentist.us
