If only a few teeth are missing, or if most of the teeth may be left in place, a partial denture is a common alternative to the complete denture. The process for creating the partial is essentially the same as for the complete denture but the final partial denture is fitted to and among the remaining teeth. A partial denture is an effective method of filling spaces between teeth, maintaining normal chewing ability and preventing the shifting of teeth that can occur when there are no adjacent teeth to help support them.