Dental prosthetics can improve the appearance of missing teeth, fix damaged or decaying ones, and help prevent issues related to chewing and speaking. But choosing the proper prosthetic can be a daunting task.
To help you make the best decision, this article will cover the following types of dental prosthetics: Removable Prosthesis.
Removable Prosthesis
Dental prostheses are designed to replace missing teeth. They allow the patient to chew and speak normally, help preserve the muscle tone that can get lost with tooth loss, and give a boost in self-esteem. There are two types of removable dentures: complete and partial.
A complete removable denture is a dental prosthesis that replaces the entire upper or lower dental arch. It rests solely on the mucous membrane and gums or, sometimes, it is supported by the remaining natural teeth or implants.
Partial removable dentures are recommended for partially edentulous patients who are in need of a replacement for aesthetic or functional reasons, but cannot have a bridge (fixed partial denture) because of a lack of the required adjacent teeth to serve as anchors, financial limitations, etc.
When using a removable denture, it is important to clean them daily in detail, in order to eliminate the presence of food particles and prevent microorganisms from entering the bone. They also require regular visits to the dentist in order to make sure that they are perfectly cleaned and in good condition. If you have any questions or concerns about your dental prosthesis, please do not hesitate to contact us at our dental practice. Our team will be happy to help you. We provide dental care in a friendly atmosphere and in accordance with the most up-to-date medical standards.
Fixed Prosthesis
A fixed prosthesis replaces or restores teeth with artificial replacements that are permanently cemented in place and cannot be removed. It may be a single cast restoration or multiple units of cast crowns joined together, commonly known as bridges and dental veneers.
It is preferred in clinical situations where the removable modalities are contraindicated, such as severe alveolar support deficits and high smile lines or to create palatal palateless prostheses when there is not sufficient natural or implant support for a functionally fixed restoration [1]. It also provides an aesthetic alternative for patients with missing teeth.
To provide a good prognosis, a fixed prosthesis should be well maintained. It is important to take into consideration the patient’s oral habits, especially bruxism (clenching or grinding of teeth), which could result in excessive bite forces on the implants and/or the adjacent natural teeth, thus possibly damaging them. In such cases, a night guard should be recommended to reduce the bite force and prevent excessive wear on the implants or natural teeth.
The maintenance of a fixed prosthesis requires excellent home care. The abutment teeth and the surrounding tissue should be meticulously brushed daily. In addition, a floss threader should be used to thread dental floss under the pontic and down into the sulcus at both the abutment teeth for cleaning purposes.
Partial Prosthesis
Removable partial dentures (RPD) are a special type of dental prosthesis used when a patient is missing some but not all of the natural teeth. These dentures are designed to help you chew and smile normally while preventing the remaining teeth from shifting. RPDs can be made from a variety of materials, but the most common are acrylic or plastic. Your dentist can recommend the best material for you based on your unique needs and tooth configuration.
RPDs are unique compared with other prosthetic solutions in that they must support both tooth and mucosal forces. Because of this, they can be more challenging from an esthetic and biomechanical standpoint.
The base of an RPD consists of gum-colored plastic resin that fits over the residual alveolar ridge that formerly held the natural teeth. Prosthetic teeth that project from the base are then shaped and colored to look and function like your own teeth. In order to keep the RPD in place, it is supported by abutments that are attached to the adjacent teeth or by clasps fixed to the abutments and oral mucosa.
In many cases, patients opt for RPDs because they cannot wait several months for a fixed bridge or implant to replace their missing teeth. RPDs can also be used temporarily to replace a single lost tooth, known as a flipper tooth.