The solution to regain the functionality and aesthetics of your smile. Whether it’s replacing a single tooth or rehabilitating the entire dental arch, dental prostheses offer a reliable and long-lasting solution to restore your quality of life and self-confidence.
Discover how dental prostheses can bring back the confidence to smile without worries, allowing you to enjoy life with a complete and radiant smile.
But what are Dental Prosthetics?
Dental prostheses, also known as “dentures,” are removable or fixed devices used to replace missing or lost teeth. They are designed to restore chewing function, aesthetics, and speech, enhancing the quality of life for patients who have lost some or all of their teeth.
Fixed, semi-fixed, and removable: what sets them apart?
The choice of the appropriate orthodontic treatment type depends on the analysis of each patient’s individual needs, considering the complexity of the orthodontic issue, personal preferences, and guidance from the orthodontist. It’s important to consult with a qualified orthodontist to assess and recommend the best treatment plan to achieve a healthy and aligned smile.
fixed prostheses
Fixed prostheses, as the name suggests, are permanently attached in the mouth through cementation or anchoring to dental implants. There are two common types of fixed prostheses:
- Implant-Supported Crowns: These prostheses replace a single missing tooth. A dental implant is inserted into the jawbone or maxilla, and a porcelain or metal crown is placed on top of the implant, restoring the appearance and function of the lost tooth.
- Fixed Bridges: Fixed bridges are used to replace one or more consecutive missing teeth. They are anchored to adjacent natural teeth or dental implants, filling the empty space with artificial teeth and restoring the appearance and function of the missing teeth.
benefits of fixed prostheses
- Stability and Confidence: Fixed prostheses are permanently cemented or screwed onto dental implants or adjacent natural teeth. This provides a more stable and confident feeling when speaking, smiling, and chewing, without the risk of slipping or unwanted movement.
- Improved Chewing Function: Fixed prostheses offer chewing function closer to that of natural teeth. Patients can enjoy a varied diet, including harder and fibrous foods, with greater comfort and effectiveness.
- Aesthetics: Fixed crowns, bridges, or prostheses are designed to resemble natural teeth in color, shape, and size. They provide an aesthetic and natural-looking smile.
- Preservation of Alveolar Bone: Dental implants used to support fixed prostheses help preserve alveolar bone, preventing the bone resorption that can occur after tooth loss.
semi-fixed prostheses
Semi-Fixed Prostheses, also known as hybrid prostheses, are a type of dental prosthesis that combines features of both fixed and removable prostheses. These prostheses are a cost-effective option for patients who need to replace multiple missing teeth and desire a more stable and permanent solution than traditional removable prostheses.
Semi-fixed prostheses are typically supported by dental implants, which are surgically inserted into the jawbone to serve as artificial roots. Dental implants provide a solid and stable foundation for the prosthesis, enhancing chewing function and stability in the mouth.
There are two main types of semi-fixed prostheses:
- Hybrid Prostheses: These consist of a metal or zirconia framework that is attached to dental implants using screws. This framework provides support for the artificial teeth that are fixed onto the prosthesis. Hybrid prostheses are permanently fixed in the mouth and can only be removed by your dentist for cleaning and maintenance.
- Overdentures: These are removable prostheses that fit over dental implants. Unlike traditional full dentures, removable prostheses are more stable and retained by the implants, which helps prevent slipping and discomfort associated with conventional dentures. Removable prostheses can be removed by the patient for hygiene and cleaning purposes.
benefits of semi-fixed prostheses
The benefits of semi-fixed prostheses include:
- Enhanced stability and retention: Due to implant support, semi-fixed prostheses offer greater stability and retention than conventional removable prostheses.
- Improved chewing function: Implant attachment improves chewing ability, allowing the patient to enjoy a more varied and nutritious diet.
- Enhanced aesthetics: Semi-fixed prostheses are designed to appear as natural as possible, resembling natural teeth and improving the smile’s appearance.
- Preservation of alveolar bone: Implants help preserve alveolar bone, preventing bone resorption after tooth loss.
The decision to opt for a semi-fixed prosthesis should be discussed with a dentist, implantologist, and prosthetist. They will assess the patient’s oral health, specific needs, and preferences to recommend the most suitable treatment.
removable prostheses
Removable prostheses are designed to be taken out of the mouth by the patient for cleaning. There are two common types of removable prostheses:
- Full Acrylic or Cobalt-Chromium Dentures: Also known as complete dentures, these are used when the patient has lost all the teeth in one arch (upper or lower) or both. They replace all the missing teeth and are supported by the tissues of the gums and palate.
- Removable Partial Dentures: These are used when some teeth are missing in the dental arch. These prostheses are attached to the remaining natural teeth using titanium clasps or other retention mechanisms.
Benefits of removable prostheses
- More Affordable Option: Removable prostheses tend to be a more cost-effective option compared to fixed prostheses supported by implants.
- Ease of Cleaning: Removable prostheses can be taken out of the mouth by the patient for cleaning. This facilitates maintenance and oral health for the patient.
- Option for Patients with Limited Bone Support: Patients with limited bone support or who are not ideal candidates for dental implants can choose removable prostheses to replace missing teeth, although nowadays it is possible to place implants through innovative techniques in these types of patients.
- Versatility: Removable prostheses can be used to replace one or multiple missing teeth, depending on the patient’s needs.
- Possibility of Adjustments: In case there are changes in the bone structure or oral health of the patient, removable prostheses can be adjusted or replaced without the need for invasive procedures.
Just like a meticulously assembled puzzle, dental prostheses meticulously craft each smile with perfection and dedication. Functionality is reclaimed, and aesthetics take on a new dimension. Each prosthesis is a link between confidence and happiness, allowing you to savor life once again with a complete and radiant smile.
Open the doors to a new chapter in your life, where every moment is lived with the certainty that your smile is an authentic expression of joy and well-being. Discover the magic of dental prostheses and allow yourself to smile for every special moment in life. It’s time to celebrate your smile.