What Is Dental Prosthetics?
A dental prosthesis is a construction used to replace some or all the person’s teeth. There are many variations of dentures: they can differ in the manner of fastening, be fixed permanently or removable, have different prices and other features. A competent choice of dentures and their high-quality delivery enables a patient to get a beautiful smile, eat anything they want and get rid of emotional distress.
Who Might Need Dentures?
In prosthodontics, all indications for dentures are divided into two large groups: medical and aesthetic ones. The first group includes situations when a prosthesis is necessary to restore a tooth that has been partially or completely destroyed. Crowning is used when a tooth is ruined by more than half or during pulpectomy (removal of tooth pulp). Implant-supported dentures are indicated even if just one tooth is missing. Moreover, one should not be slow in having their missing teeth restored: the bone tissue atrophies, thus making the treatment longer and more expensive.
Veneers are used mainly for aesthetic reasons. A person may be dissatisfied with the teeth’ appearance: for example, their enamel is fractured or discolored. In this case, veneers will make a smile look perfect and attractive.
A bridge will be helpful for those who are missing several teeth in a row, which cannot be replaced with implants individually. If there are no teeth that can be used to attach a bridge, it can be securely fixed on just two implants. Thus, the patient gets beautiful teeth and saves much money.
Dental prostheses are necessary in case of adentia (complete absence of teeth). At the pre-assessment, the doctor examines the patient’s oral cavity and performs the necessary examinations: only after that, the person is offered an appropriate option of teeth restoration. As a rule, foreign experts recommend fabricating and delivering a removable implant-supported prosthesis. The number of artificial tooth roots necessary for reliable bridge fixation is determined for each case individually.
Denture Types
Prosthodontists working in reputable clinics can offer multiple options for dental prostheses. The choice of a certain denture type depends on:
- the state of the remaining teeth (for example, whether they can be used as denture supports);
- contraindications (for example, implants are the most up-to-date, reliable, and durable method of teeth restoration, but not all patients may use it);
- the patient’s preferences and budget.
Teeth-replacing prostheses can be either removable or fixed permanently.
Removable Dentures
Removable dentures are considered a more affordable option due to their cost, have a long service life, and are quite easy to use. Their disadvantage is unreliable fixation: false teeth can fall out of the mouth at the worst possible moment. Therefore, a patient may feel uncomfortable when talking to people or eating. In addition, today’s requirements for dental prostheses have become even more demanding: they must not only help chew but be aesthetically acceptable for the patient. In Israel, Germany, and some other developed countries, dental prostheses are made of high-quality materials from leading global manufacturers. Professional dental technicians with more than ten years of experience are engaged in the manufacture of dentures.
The doctor warns the patient in advance that removable dentures often fail to completely restore their ability to chew. Over time, due to the lack of proper load on the tissues, the mucous and bone tissue atrophy gradually, which can cause difficulties with denture fixation in the future. Bone atrophy is a contraindication for most types of dental implants: an additional bone grafting is needed before the implant is placed. This makes the treatment longer and more expensive.
Permanently Fixed Dentures
This type of dental restoration is the best in terms of aesthetics and functionality. Skillful work ensures the durability of the entire prosthesis. The most affordable option of permanently fixed dentures is crowns and bridges. The crown is attached to each tooth individually, and the bridge can cap several teeth in a row simultaneously. Implant-supported dentures have become a real breakthrough in dentistry: an artificial tooth root is secured to the bone, and the dental cap is difficult to tell from the natural one. Fixed dentures also include veneers, inlays, onlays, and lumineers. The choice of a particular option for restoring a missing tooth or eliminating a crown defect is based on examination of the oral cavity, determination of the indications, and the patient’s preferences.
One of the main disadvantages of fixed dentures is their cost: not all patients can afford such devices, especially implants. Also, to deliver some types of systems, it is necessary to grind adjacent teeth (for example, in case of a bridge) or enamel (in case of veneers), which may damage healthy teeth especially if it is done unskillfully. Foreign dental clinics possess the latest-generation equipment, which enables the doctors to perform elaborate work. Microscope-enhanced dentistry is no luxury because such a technique and experts able to use it can be found in every clinic that keeps pace with advances in dentistry.
