Do You Need Dental Adhesive for Partial Dentures?

Partial dentures are a great way to replace missing teeth if the patient still has some of their natural teeth. However, anyone who has ever worn dentures knows that they sometimes move around in the mouth. That causes problems when the patient is trying to chew their food or speak.

Do partial dentures require dental adhesive?

Partial dentures have replacement teeth attached to a metal clasp or plastic base that is colored to match the patient’s gums. The two most commonly used partial dentures are fixed partial dentures and removable partial dentures.

Fixed partial dentures

Fixed partial dentures are also known as dental implant bridges. They are permanently attached to the patient’s mouth using dental implants to hold them in place. The implants serve as an anchor for the partial denture, which is fitted with artificial teeth to replace the missing ones. Since dental implants have to be fused to the jawbone, people with these types of implants do not require dental adhesive to hold them in place.

Removable partial dentures

These dentures are also known as removable dental bridges. They are used to replace missing teeth by attaching the replacement teeth to a gum-colored plastic base. The base is placed on the top of the gums and attached to the natural teeth using metal clasps that are connected to the dentures.

Unlike the fixed partial dentures, the metal clasps that hold the removable partial dentures in place are not very durable and can sometimes break. If the metal clasp holding the removable dentures in place breaks, the dentures become loose in the mouth.

What do I do when my partial dentures become loose?

When the removable dentures become loose, the first thing to do is to schedule an appointment with the dentist to get it fixed. Since it is not considered a dental emergency, the patient can hold it in place temporarily using an adhesive or denture repair kit. The dental adhesive and the repair kit can be bought at any local pharmacy and will keep the denture in place until the patient can see the dentist.

Even though it might seem like a good idea, dentists warn patients against using a regular adhesive like Super Glue to hold the partial dentures in place. They contain dangerous chemicals that can be hazardous to one’s health and can damage the dentures, natural teeth and gums.

Denture adhesives are safe to use and they do not damage the dentures or the teeth. Since they are not designed to last for more than one use, there is no danger of them sticking to the teeth or gums permanently. However, the dentures should be cleaned after using dental adhesives to prevent a buildup of bacteria that can cause infections and other health problems.

Conclusion

Dental adhesives can be used to hold removable partial dentures in place temporarily until you get a chance to see your dentist. If you want to replace your missing teeth with partial dentures but do not want to worry about using dental adhesive, talk to your dentist about getting fixed partial dentures.

Request an appointment here: https://www.implantdentalbellevue.com or call Bellevue Implant & Cosmetic Dentistry at (425) 249-9186 for an appointment in our Bellevue office.

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