Fixed or removable? The most efficiently made fixed and removable dentures
Teeth that are lost because of gum disease or cavity need to be replaced as soon as possible. Probably all of us heard about this, but it is a less known fact that a non-filled gap in your teeth may have health consequences.
An incomplete set of teeth may cause improper chewing that leads to indigestion or articulation problems.
Besides other complications, aesthetic factors almost seem to be secondary but it is also important to mention that the patient may have psychological dysfunctions in consequence of such problems.
Thus, it is no coincidence that for dentists, the basic rule is to replace lost teeth as quickly as possible.
When something is missing for the perfect, carefree smile
Patients tend to care less about losing their molars than their front teeth although each tooth has an important role except for wisdom teeth.
But as rear teeth do not hinder patients in free communication, a lot of people do not take sufficient account of correction. Nevertheless when one or more teeth is missing from the ‘visible’ side it becomes really embarrassing to go outside the streets.
It’s worth bearing in mind that because of the loss of molars, we start to chew with our front teeth. This way, these teeth need to face more rough usage which means that we’ll loose them sooner than we should.
The statement is also true regarding our teeth: everything has a consequence to it.
It is more and more common that a tooth is irretrievable because of improper oral hygiene - in such cases, neither root canal treatment nor dental filling could be a help. The given tooth must be extracted and replaced.
But what kind of dentures are available?
When a single tooth is missing
The best solution is the dental crown.
Even in the case of seemingly irretrievable teeth, the root itself can be saved. In the worst-case scenario,the prosthesis is attached to place with the help of a dental implant. We build up the new tooth (which is nearly identical to the original teeth as far as its size, form and color is concerned) above the gum.
Dental implants are made of metal or fibre-reinforced plastic. These implants serve as the root of the crown which can be made of metal-free zirconium, pure porcelain or metal ceramics.
When a gap is created by one ore more missing teeth
One of the best and cheapest solutions is the dental bridge.
We polish the adjacent teeth bordering the gap - this is where the prosthetic tool will be attached later on. While preparing the bridge, we are paying particular attention to the colour and the shape since we want your new teeth to harmonize with your existing ones. This way, the artificial teeth will go unnoticed. We fix the bridge in place using adhesive.
Implant-supported bridges provide a long-lasting and strong solution.
In this case, there’s no polishing of any teeth - we surgically place implants at both ends of the gap, and the artificial teeth will be put on top of these. The bridge is fixed either by adhesion or by bolting. The latter has the advantage of being removable and reusable for the purpose of cleaning or other dental treatments.
If the dental bridge is made of metal ceramic alloy, the lifelike ceramic coating is applied to a steady metal frame layer by layer. Thanks to the fine work, we’ll have an aesthetic and beautiful result but it surely can’t successfully compete with the more expensive, metal-free solutions.
This is the reason why more and more people want to choose metal-free solution and thus, making prosthetic tools of porcelain and zirconium have become more popular.
Full dentures
When a significant amount of teeth or all of them is missing, the face structure will change and we’ll have hollow cheeks. Restoration of the teeth requires patience and time but at the end, the patient’s face gets younger,his/her general mood will be better and he/she will be brave enough to speak and smile again.
Therefore a removable full denture could also be an excellent solution - especially these days, when prosthesis might be fixed using implants.
Depending on the state of the gums and the jawbone, the dentist will offer several solutions for the patient. Removable full denture is the perfect choice if you are diagnosed with gingival recession (since it’s necessary to replace the lost gum) or if your bone density is insufficient for having normal implants.
There’s still a chance to fix the denture with implants - this type of solution is extremely popular since it has the most optimal quality-price ratio.
Removable full and partial dentures:
If a couple of teeth is left in the mouth we can make a removable partial denture. In such cases, the existing teeth will be the pillars (abutment tooth) which would allow us to plan an artificial set of dentures around them. Usually, these kind of dentures are used when the molars are missing. We can connect the dental prosthesis with the original teeth using a practical tool that ensures stability for the artificial part.
When all of the teeth is missing, only the removable full denture is capable of restoring your original speech and your chewing ability. The dental technician makes an imprint of your upper and lower jawbones while paying particular attention to your dental formula and biting parameters. By using this carefully done print we can now easily make a comfortable, well-fitting removable denture.
The denture is removable any time, thus you can keep all of its parts clean. The only drawback here is the fact that it tends to be displaced easily (because of swaying and wobbling). It might also hurt and irritate the palate and the gums because of these unintended movements and the heavier loading on the gingiva.