Denture really needed?

[GameofPhones]

After a recent tooth extraction I now have a 2-teeth gap in my chewing teeth on one side. The gap is too wide for a bridge, and I don't have enough bone thickness for implants. The dentist says I need a partial denture. However now the extraction has healed over, I find I can chew as well as before, using both sides (I was chewing on one side before, to avoid stressing the tooth that had to come out). I'm reluctant to have a denture unless I really need it. Anyone with similar experience?

Can you get a bone graft so you can have implants?

Dentist here

It's your choice really. If you find you are managing fine without a denture then you dont need one

The caveat to that is if you dont have one, your teeth may drift a little. If then you need one in the future it maybe more challenging. If you lose more teeth you may find it more difficult to adapt to wearing a denture as well if you've not had one before

However many people do not get a denture for that gap and never have any problems

Great information, thankyou.

I have a similar situation, and have a teeny flexible partial denture. There is no plate, it just clips on to the neighbouring teeth. It’s about the size of the top joint of my thumb. I paid about £300 for it (I am an NHS patient in a mixed private/NHS surgery, and this was a private treatment) and while it needed a couple of tweaks initially it is very comfortable. I tend not to wear it if I am just knocking about at home, because like you I can eat fine, but I do like not having the gap even though no-one else can see it.

I keep it in one of the little pots from Boots which is supposed to be for decanting moisturiser into for a weekend break - it really is tiny,