Valpast Partial Dentures

[Eclipse255]

Due to my severe dental anxiety, I am missing several teeth.Recently, I had to have yet another tooth extracted, the number 5 (upper) tooth. Since then, I have been extremely depressed and am embarrassed to smile. It is also hard to eat. I am terrified of getting dental implants and do not want a bridge. The dentist recommend Valpast partial dentures to replace my missing teeth. However, I read that they can cause gum recession in the adjacent teeth, and can also put pressure on adjacent teeth, causing one to lose even more teeth. I am so anxious about this that I am not able to sleep or eat. I suffer from TMJ, and since having my number 5 tooth extracted, my TMJ pain is worse than ever. My bite is even more misaligned than before. It is also hard for me to eat with my missing teeth. I don’t know what to do. Does anyone here have Valpast partial dentures? If so, have you suffered gum recession in the adjacent teeth that you lost a tooth? Or did the partials put so much pressure on your adjacent teeth that you lost one?Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gordon]

Just in general really, where on earth do people find all this misinformation that appears to be floating about? Every day it seems somebody comes on here repeating some utter bilge that they've found someplace on the internet. It's weird.

Anyway, Valplast doesn't cause any bigger issues than any other partial denture material. It has some advantages and some disadvantages and so like everything else in life it's a compromise.
There's a useful article on here about it: https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/faq/dentures/#valplast

 

[Eclipse255]

I apologize. I forgot to mention that I also asked my dentist if the Valpast partial dentures could cause gum recession in the adjacent teeth and she replied yes. This is why I am so anxious. Thank you for your reply.

 

[drhirst]

Hi Eclipse255.
Valplast is one brand of flexible denture base material unlike regular acrylic which is brittle. It is also semi transparent and you can make clips grip the adjacent natural teeth in a less visible way than conventional metal clasps. This issue with increased risk of recession is that the clasp sit directly on the delicate gums on the edge of the teeth and the denture flexing can cause recession by repeated microtrauma. Also, the denture sits on the gum and is not supported by the teeth so can sink in to the gum and strip the gum from the teeth in some cases.
The key to avoiding this is to have a metal framework made which rests on the teeth so it cannot sink into the gum and have Valplast clasps attached to this so you don't see obvious metal clasps.
I have some patients with excellent oral hygiene who do just fine with these dentures but I avoid making them if there is a viable alternative.

 

[Eclipse255]

The problem is that I have a metal allergy. Thank you for your reply.

 

[drhirst]

So you can have the framework made out of a metal free substance called Peek

 

[Eclipse255]

Thank you. I appreciate it.