[vero99]

Hi everyone (new and first post)

Just got new flexible partial denture last Thursday! At the time - i told dentist make sure it matches my gum... while taking the teeth mould she got her receptionist to call around the labs for a partial with darker colour... she couldn’t find one.. but took my money anyway and said she would find a lab!

She didn’t - she gave me a call to say... its gonna be ok the partial gum colour is not gonna show and will be see through..

Well the partial came back the teeth were too small and the gum hook that covered it near the front teeth showed...
she returned it... When they came back the teeth were now bigger but the colour of the gum is light pink and my gums are dark... i walked away with this... but the colour of the gum is apparent i thought it would 'mesh' in wth my colour but it hasnt! She said we don’t smile wide.. but as noticed when talking to people - that is exactly what i do and who partial is on display!

I don’t think i can stand this for months or years!

The partial replaced three side left teeth an incisor and two others at the left side... I just feel this was an expensive mistake! She knew she couldn’t find a lab that would do the right colour.... yet she still took my money!

Should I sue - can i sue? Can I sue the lab (sorry these are London dentists!)

When she sent it back she did mention the small teeth and that perhaps they should make the partial claw a lighter colour or thinner so it didn’t show in the front! But they ignored that request and just enlarged the teeth! Perhaps its because they couldn’t do anything! So whose is at fault - the lab or the dentist, probably the dentist?

Had I thought it through - I should have gone to the states or Delhi or Jamaica! But you are always wiser after an event!

You would have thought that in this day and age they would be able to change the colour of a partial?

I’m thinking of putting it in hot water, just the partial bit just to change the colour perhaps that might work?

I have always been proud of my smile but my teeth has gone wrong lately namely after a bridge that decayed my teeth so a year ago had to have one taken out and the other decayed.

i don’t have enough saved for an implant - and i have just read a load of horror stories of how painful they are... so I’m probably not gonna bother has i have a low pain fresh hold!!

I have considered just cutting the partial so it doesn’t grab over my third front teeth putting it further back then it would be less obtrusive. I would ruin the partial bit that hooks into the gum!

I may have a new man about to ask me out – I’ve been avoiding him – this ugly partial has taken away all my confidence! Talking to him fills me with dread!

I wanna go back to her (dentist) this week but what do I say? What can she do? I know she chucked away my mould after she offered it to me!

I don’t wanna make a scene but it looks like I’m just gonna have to lump it!

Any ideas welcome... its very distressing: mad:

Sorry this was sooooo long – just cant help talking about this expensive error…
+++

Oh and chewing on the partials is a bit unsteady it fits nice and smug but I am finding that I need polligrip for security… This being so expensive I would have thought they would be so much more sturdy! What a ript off!!

[Kitt]

Welcome vero99.

[Bryanna]

Hi vero,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

Not sure what information your dentist has shared with you about the fabrication of a partial denture. So I will give you the information here.

There is a limitation to the gum color choices for all partial and full dentures. Probably about 4 choices total making the selection something that has to be "settled" upon rather than esthetically fashionable. The base is made from a colored plastic or acrylic material therefore the color of the material used is not changeable. It cannot be dyed or stained and hot or cold water will not alter the color. If you were to soak the partial denture in a bleach solution or something similar, depending on how long you soaked it, the color made fade to a light pink... almost white, but it would not darken it.

Sometimes people have really dark gum tissue and in those cases, there really is no "ideal" plastic gum color to choose from. So it is best to choose the gum color that will compliment the skin tone of the patient to help make the partial denture less obvious.

Regarding the clasp that wraps around your front tooth.... if you remove this, the partial will most likely fall out. A clasp or clasps need to be added to keep the partial in place when replacing several missing teeth. Again there are limitations as to where that clasp can go to be effective. The color choices for the clasps are limited just like the gum base. They are either made of plastic or metal. They also have to be in a particular location on or near a tooth to work properly. Usually it is not advisable to have them just laying on the gum tissue as the friction from the movement of the partial will cause a very bad sore.

Regarding the size of the teeth. Again there are limitations based on the anatomy of your jaw, your bite and facial structures. If the teeth are too large you will not be able to close your teeth together properly while chewing. The same goes for if they are too small. So ideally they should be the size that fits comfortably into your existing bite. Sometimes the partial base can be made to accommodate a bit larger teeth if some of the plastic gum is removed but again it depends on the individual anatomy. The base of the partial needs to be thick enough to not only protect the gum tissue that it is sitting against but needs to be durable so it can be functional for a very long time.

Regarding the fit of the partial.... it should be as comfortable as possible. There will be an adjustment period as it is a foreign material in your mouth and eating, chewing, speaking, kissing..... is going to be different. Everyone adapts differently to wearing a partial or full denture. You may need to have several adjustments to the bite before it settles in comfortably. It is not unusual for the partial to be re made a couple of times because getting the right fit can be a bit tricky in some cases.

It is very important that you are happy about your smile. But equally important to accept that it will never be what it originally was and will be something that you have to adjust to. So your expectations need to be realistic but at the same time, you need to be able to wear it with confidence and not be self conscious of wearing it.

The only thing I can see that your dentist may have been remiss with is in offering you a full explanation of everything. You do not have grounds to sue her or the dental lab. But you should pursue the fact with her that it is not what you expected or anticipated and it is not comfortable.

I hope I have given you some helpful information. Before this issue becomes an emotional burden for you, please go back to your dentist and have a talk with her. MOST denture patients have lots of visits with their dentists and for similar reasons to yours, until they come to a mutual agreement about the denture.

Please let us know how you are doing.
Bryanna

Originally Posted by vero99

Hi everyone (new and first post)

Just got new flexible partial denture last Thursday! At the time - i told dentist make sure it matches my gum... while taking the teeth mould she got her receptionist to call around the labs for a partial with darker colour... she couldn’t find one.. but took my money anyway and said she would find a lab!

She didn’t - she gave me a call to say... its gonna be ok the partial gum colour is not gonna show and will be see through..

Well the partial came back the teeth were too small and the gum hook that covered it near the front teeth showed...
she returned it... When they came back the teeth were now bigger but the colour of the gum is light pink and my gums are dark... i walked away with this... but the colour of the gum is apparent i thought it would 'mesh' in wth my colour but it hasnt! She said we don’t smile wide.. but as noticed when talking to people - that is exactly what i do and who partial is on display!

I don’t think i can stand this for months or years!

The partial replaced three side left teeth an incisor and two others at the left side... I just feel this was an expensive mistake! She knew she couldn’t find a lab that would do the right colour.... yet she still took my money!

Should I sue - can i sue? Can I sue the lab (sorry these are London dentists!)

When she sent it back she did mention the small teeth and that perhaps they should make the partial claw a lighter colour or thinner so it didn’t show in the front! But they ignored that request and just enlarged the teeth! Perhaps its because they couldn’t do anything! So whose is at fault - the lab or the dentist, probably the dentist?

Had I thought it through - I should have gone to the states or Delhi or Jamaica! But you are always wiser after an event!

You would have thought that in this day and age they would be able to change the colour of a partial?

I’m thinking of putting it in hot water, just the partial bit just to change the colour perhaps that might work?

I have always been proud of my smile but my teeth has gone wrong lately namely after a bridge that decayed my teeth so a year ago had to have one taken out and the other decayed.

i don’t have enough saved for an implant - and i have just read a load of horror stories of how painful they are... so I’m probably not gonna bother has i have a low pain fresh hold!!

I have considered just cutting the partial so it doesn’t grab over my third front teeth putting it further back then it would be less obtrusive. I would ruin the partial bit that hooks into the gum!

I may have a new man about to ask me out – I’ve been avoiding him – this ugly partial has taken away all my confidence! Talking to him fills me with dread!

I wanna go back to her (dentist) this week but what do I say? What can she do? I know she chucked away my mould after she offered it to me!

I don’t wanna make a scene but it looks like I’m just gonna have to lump it!

Any ideas welcome... its very distressing: mad:

Sorry this was sooooo long – just cant help talking about this expensive error…
+++

Oh and chewing on the partials is a bit unsteady it fits nice and smug but I am finding that I need polligrip for security… This being so expensive I would have thought they would be so much more sturdy! What a ript off!!

[vero99]

Originally Posted by Kitt

Welcome vero99.

Thank you!

[vero99]

Originally Posted by Bryanna

Hi vero,

I am in the dental field and can offer you some information here.

Not sure what information your dentist has shared with you about the fabrication of a partial denture. So I will give you the information here.

There is a limitation to the gum color choices for all partial and full dentures. Probably about 4 choices total making the selection something that has to be "settled" upon rather than esthetically fashionable. The base is made from a colored plastic or acrylic material therefore the color of the material used is not changeable. It cannot be dyed or stained and hot or cold water will not alter the color. If you were to soak the partial denture in a bleach solution or something similar, depending on how long you soaked it, the color made fade to a light pink... almost white, but it would not darken it.

Sometimes people have really dark gum tissue and in those cases, there really is no "ideal" plastic gum color to choose from. So it is best to choose the gum color that will compliment the skin tone of the patient to help make the partial denture less obvious.

Regarding the clasp that wraps around your front tooth.... if you remove this, the partial will most likely fall out. A clasp or clasps need to be added to keep the partial in place when replacing several missing teeth. Again there are limitations as to where that clasp can go to be effective. The color choices for the clasps are limited just like the gum base. They are either made of plastic or metal. They also have to be in a particular location on or near a tooth to work properly. Usually it is not advisable to have them just laying on the gum tissue as the friction from the movement of the partial will cause a very bad sore.

Regarding the size of the teeth. Again there are limitations based on the anatomy of your jaw, your bite and facial structures. If the teeth are too large you will not be able to close your teeth together properly while chewing. The same goes for if they are too small. So ideally they should be the size that fits comfortably into your existing bite. Sometimes the partial base can be made to accommodate a bit larger teeth if some of the plastic gum is removed but again it depends on the individual anatomy. The base of the partial needs to be thick enough to not only protect the gum tissue that it is sitting against but needs to be durable so it can be functional for a very long time.

Regarding the fit of the partial.... it should be as comfortable as possible. There will be an adjustment period as it is a foreign material in your mouth and eating, chewing, speaking, kissing..... is going to be different. Everyone adapts differently to wearing a partial or full denture. You may need to have several adjustments to the bite before it settles in comfortably. It is not unusual for the partial to be re made a couple of times because getting the right fit can be a bit tricky in some cases.

It is very important that you are happy about your smile. But equally important to accept that it will never be what it originally was and will be something that you have to adjust to. So your expectations need to be realistic but at the same time, you need to be able to wear it with confidence and not be self conscious of wearing it.

The only thing I can see that your dentist may have been remiss with is in offering you a full explanation of everything. You do not have grounds to sue her or the dental lab. But you should pursue the fact with her that it is not what you expected or anticipated and it is not comfortable.

I hope I have given you some helpful information. Before this issue becomes an emotional burden for you, please go back to your dentist and have a talk with her. MOST denture patients have lots of visits with their dentists and for similar reasons to yours, until they come to a mutual agreement about the denture.

Please let us know how you are doing.
Bryanna

Thank you for a wonderful and informative reply...
I like the bleach bit though - better clear than pink!
I will go and see my dentist this week and will update you guys as to what happens… but yeh things will be different from now on… even kissing lol!!

Thanks again Bryanna!

[Bryanna]

Hi vero99,

You are welcome.

I would not advise that you bleach the partial denture as it will not turn clear, it will either turn lighter pink or white. Neither of which would suit your needs

Please check back and let us know how things go!

Bryanna

Originally Posted by vero99

Thank you for a wonderful and informative reply...
I like the bleach bit though - better clear than pink!
I will go and see my dentist this week and will update you guys as to what happens… but yeh things will be different from now on… even kissing lol!!

Thanks again Bryanna!

[vero99]

Ahhhhh ok!!!