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PARTIAL DENTURES
PARTIAL DENTURES A partial denture replaces missing teeth so that the remaining teeth, oral tissues and cheeks have support. A partial denture also will allow the patient to chew and speak properly and smile with confidence. A partial denture, like a complete denture, is made out of acrylic but unlike a denture it also uses a metal framework that attaches to the remaining teeth by use of clasps or precision attachments, which attach to crowns and give a partial denture a tighter fit and a more natural look. A partial denture is fabricated by taking impressions after the necessary work has been done on the remaining natural teeth. A partial denture will be checked for any discomfort or pressure. If a partial denture does not fit properly, a clasp or tooth can break as an end result. A partial denture must be removed before proper brushing can be accomplished. The teeth, gums and partial denture must all be cared for by the patient. Like a complete denture, regular examinations by a hygienist and dentist are important to check the supporting teeth for decay and periodontal disease and to check the continuing fit and comfort of the partial denture. See also "Dentures."
RELATED TERMS--------------------------------------
Denture
Removable (partial or complete) set of artificial teeth.
Oral
Of or involving the mouth or mouth region or the surface on which the mouth is located.
Crowns
A crown is a permanent restoration that covers a tooth to strengthen and protect a decayed tooth from further fracture. A crown also may be used to support a large filling when there is little tooth remaining. A crown can be made of different types of materials (gold, composite resin, porcelain or a combination of these materials) depending on the location and condition of the problem tooth. If properly cared for, a crown can last over 25 years.
Natural
Not human-induced or manmade.
Clasp
Device that retains a removable partial denture to stationary teeth.
Hygienist
Dental auxiliary who cleans teeth and provides patient education; administers local anesthetic, nitrous oxide and performs periodontal scaling.
Dentist
A medical doctor in the field of dentistry and stomatology, taking care of teeth and dental health.
Decay
Destruction of tooth structure caused by toxins produced by bacteria.
Disease
Illness or sickness often characterized by typical patient problems (symptoms) and physical findings (signs). Disruption sequence: The events that occur when a fetus that is developing normally is subjected to a destructive agent such as the rubella (German measles) virus.
SIMILAR TERMS--------------------------------------
Parthenogenesis
Development of an egg into a newborn without fertilization by a sperm. Parthenogenic species are monochoric, that is, all members of the species are of the same gonadal type; for example, some species of whiptail lizard. This is also called "virgin birth" in the vernacular.
Partial denture
Removable dental prosthesis (appliance) replacing one or more natural teeth.
Partialism
Fetishism of the type in which the fetishistic attachment is not to an object but to a part of the partner's body, for example the hair or, in the case of acrotomophilia, the stump of an amputated limb.
Partners HealthCare System
Partners HealthCare System is a hospital in Boston, Massachusetts (USA).
PREVIOUS AND NEXT TERMS--------------------------------------
Preprandial
Occurring before a meal. Example: Blood taken before eating to see the amount of glucose in the blood would be called a preprandial blood glucose test. |See also: Fasting plasma glucose.
Previous Abnormality of Glucose Tolerance (PrevAGT)
A term for people who have had above-normal levels of blood glucose (sugar) when tested for diabetes in the past but who show as normal on a current test. PrevAGT used to be called either "latent diabetes" or "prediabetes."
Proinsulin
The initial protein made by the beta cells of the pancreas that later is broken into several pieces. Proinsulin consists of three parts: C-Peptide and two long strands of amino acids (called the alpha and beta chains) that later become linked together to form the insulin molecule. |From every molecule of proinsulin, one molecule of insulin plus one molecule of C-Peptide are produced.
Proliferative Retinopathy
A disease of the small blood vessels of the retina of the eye. |See also: Diabetic retinopathy.
Purified Insulins
Insulins with much less of the impure proinsulin. It is thought that the use of purified insulins may help avoid or reduce some of the problems of people with diabetes such as allergic reactions.
PARTIAL DENTURES
PERIODONTAL SURGERY
Periodontal surgery is usually reserved for patients who have gum problems that cannot be addressed by more conservative treatment (See "Scaling and Root Planing"). One sign of periodontal problems is having excessively large pockets between the gum and the teeth (normal pocket depth is typically 3mm or less). Patients who have excessively deep pockets usually cannot keep these pockets free of the bacteria that causes gum disease and periodontal deterioration. There are various surgical techniques that a dentist or periodontist can use to reach the affected area and treat the disease. Surgery may consist of lifting the gum away so the plaque and bacteria can be more easily removed, the roots are scaled smooth and then the gum is laid back down in a position that should make it easier to clean. Sometimes surgery involves bone grafting and the use of membranes to help stabilize and make mobile teeth firm in the bone again. If there is extensive gum loss a gingival (gum) graft may be used from tissue elsewhere in the mouth. After surgery, a periodontal pack is placed over the surgical area and the tissues are allowed to heal. Antibiotics and a mild pain reliever may also be used to help combat infection and reduce swelling. After surgery, a program of good oral hygiene and proper home care will be established for the patient to help maintain the new healthy smile. Patient recall appointments with the hygienist will also be made in shorter intervals. In recent years some periodontal surgery has been performed with the use of soft tissue lasers (See "Lasers").
Palliative Care
Medical treatments intended to control suffering and discomfort (such as pain medication or treatment of an infection). These treatments will not cure the patient.
Papillary Muscles
Small muscles that are part of the inside walls of the ventricles and attach to the chordae tendineae.
Parietal Pericardium
The fibrous outer layer of the pericardium
Patency Rate
The likelihood that a vessel will remain open.
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