Missing three teeth in your smile? Are they all missing in a row? Or are they separated by other natural teeth? You see, the details are extremely important when it comes to determining whether you best qualify for a partial denture or a dental bridge. Fortunately, there are some simple ways of finding out which solution is appropriate for you, beginning with your tooth loss pattern. From there, you can make your way through a list of preferences that can assist in your final decision making process. Wondering how to begin the journey toward choosing between these two prosthetic solutions? Take the following quiz to find out more:

Quiz: Do You Need A Partial Denture or Dental Bridge?

1. Partial or Bridge: You are missing one tooth or up to three teeth (in a row) and you would like a fixed prosthetic.
2. Partial or Bridge: You are missing two teeth. They are not next to one another but separated by one natural tooth.
3. Partial or Bridge: You would like to be able to remove your dental prosthetic – you have been considering dental implants to replace your teeth and would simply like something to restore the appearance of your smile while you plan.

Answer Key

1. Dental Bridge. You need a bridge. Fortunately, a bridge will replace one tooth or up to three teeth that rest next to one another, so you make a wonderful candidate. In addition, a bridge is fixed, which means we will place it in your mouth by cementing the end crowns over your remaining teeth.
2. Partial Denture. A bridge cannot replace teeth that are separated from one another – this is because a bridge is composed as a single, continuous series of artificial teeth. A partial denture, however, offers great versatility when it comes to partial tooth loss patterns.
3. Partial Denture. A denture is a removable prosthetic, which means when you place it in your mouth, it will rely on natural suction as well as the clasps attached to the partial that sit over your natural teeth. We will not cement it in place. You can remove it at will whenever you please.

ABOUT YOUR CONROE, TX DENTIST:

The Dental Centre of Conroe, John M Richards DDS delivers distinctive cosmetic, restorative, and implant dentistry for residents of Conroe, Houston, The Woodlands, Montgomery, Willis, Magnolia, Huntsville, and the neighboring communities. For more information about our services, or to schedule an appointment, contact us by calling (936) 441-4600.