Partial dentures and natural teeth

[Judythecat]

Can anyone help, please? I recently got a semi-flexible partial denture to replace a missing pre-molar and molar on lower right. The teeth have been missing for years and no-one ever noticed the gap, but my recent dental obsession meant I became self-conscious of it! I was talking to a colleague yesterday who told me the partial will eventually ruin my natural teeth, and cause them to fall out. I specifically asked my dentist if it would harm my teeth, and she said no, but now I am scared (paranoid) that I can see a groove in the enamel of the tooth it attaches to at the front. Surely that wouldn't have happened in two months, though? I can totally live without the denture if it means I am essentially taking out two teeth to wear it.

 

[Gordon]

That's an old wives' tale Surprised it's still doing the rounds, how old is this colleague?

 

[Judythecat]

Thank you for replying. God, I am such an idiot to believe him over my actual dentist. He’s in his 50s. The reason it came up was because he’s midway through the implant process for two upper molars, but refuses to wear the partial denture he was given in case he ends up needing four implants. I actually didn’t mention mine, but went home and ruminated madly.

 

[krlovesherkids777]

Judythecat,

I've had a partial with metal for almost 20 years and have never heard it hurts other teeth by anyone. and had helped me and was what I needed at the time, of course I'm working on a plan eventually to get implants there now but will take some $$ Maybe his dentist used some scare tactics to steer him to getting implants vs dentures. I used to have a dentist that would do that trying everything to get you to do implants. he didn't use that excuse though. it was just always pushed for one reason or another. Totally hear you on the ruminating though.. its easy to do. so easy.

 

[Judythecat]

Judythecat,

I've had a partial with metal for almost 20 years and have never heard it hurts other teeth by anyone. and had helped me and was what I needed at the time, of course I'm working on a plan eventually to get implants there now but will take some $$ Maybe his dentist used some scare tactics to steer him to getting implants vs dentures. I used to have a dentist that would do that trying everything to get you to do implants. he didn't use that excuse though. it was just always pushed for one reason or another. Totally hear you on the ruminating though.. its easy to do. so easy.

Mine has no metal, it’s literally the two teeth, and sits round the next door teeth, on a kind of silicon or acrylic base. I don’t need to have it becausevthe gap’s not visible and doesn’t impact my eating. I have got myself into a massive anxiety spiral about it and am convinced the tooth it hooks round now hurts - despite having a checkup a fortnight ago, and that tooth never having had any decay or anything done to it. I swear I am a crazy person sometimes!

 

[krlovesherkids777]

I can totally see that , that odd pressure , I can imagine its different so noticeble and maybe a bit bothersome to the other teeth its next to , it just makes you think of it .

 

[Judythecat]

I can totally see that , that odd pressure , I can imagine its different so noticeble and maybe a bit bothersome to the other teeth its next to , it just makes you think of it .

I think am going to stop wearing it. It cost a lot of money but is not worth the anxiety. Now it’s in my head I will never feel comfortable with it again. I managed fine without it before. Annoyingly, I am actually due to pick up one for the other side (where I also have a missing molar) in a week, but I need to just chalk the cost up and draw a line under it for the sake of my mental health!