Fixed dentures - types, bridges, on implants

Fixed dentures are most suitable for teenagers and middle-aged people, as they look natural, do not require special care and perform the functions of lost teeth.

Types of fixed dentures

• Partial or micro denture (veneers, lumineers, onlays)
• Single dental crown
• Bridge denture
• Cantilever crowns
• Implants

Each denture is selected depending on the degree of tooth destruction.

Micro prosthetics is indicated for people with partial tooth destruction. The color of the restored tooth is matched to the natural color of the adjacent teeth. If the part of the tooth that is visible to strangers is damaged, then a veneer or lumineer is placed on the tooth to hide the defects. Onlays are used to eliminate large tooth defects. They are more aesthetically pleasing and durable compared to fillings.

Single dental crowns are installed on teeth with partial destruction. If only the root remains from the natural tooth, a pin is first installed, then a post and core, and a crown is put on top.

A bridge prosthesis will be an excellent replacement for one or more teeth. It is placed in place of the missing tooth, resting on the adjacent ones, while crowns are put on them. Nowadays, bridge prostheses that are attached with locks are very popular.

Cantilever crowns have support only on one side.

Implantation is the most advanced type of modern prosthetics. An implant can be installed to replace either one tooth or the entire jaw.

Brief comparative characteristics

Fixed dentures are made of different materials: plastic, metal ceramics or ceramics, metal, silver-palladium alloy, flexite material.

Fixed dentures for dental restoration made of plastic are rarely installed in patients these days.

For many years now, the most popular material for making dentures in orthopedics has been metal ceramics. This material perfectly imitates the shape and color of a natural tooth, is quite light, strong and durable.

To replace the front and side teeth, to get the closest possible match to the natural tooth even in transparency and shade, ceramics without a metal base are installed, which, however, also affects its cost.

Implants consist of two parts - root and crown. The root part is the base of the implant, replacing the root of the tooth, usually made of titanium and screwed into the bone tissue. After the implant is inserted and the gums heal, the crown part of the tooth is screwed to the titanium root. As a result, a new tooth with excellent aesthetic and physiological indicators is formed. The process of installing an implant is long and expensive, but such a tooth will look no worse than a real one, or even better.

Stages of manufacturing and installation

Before installing a fixed denture, it is necessary to undergo a thorough examination of the oral cavity by a dentist, in some cases - to do a hygienic cleaning of the teeth.

To install a veneer, lumineer or onlay, the doctor initially examines the area to be prosthetized and makes an impression. At the second appointment with the orthopedic dentist, a wax model of the tooth onlay is tried on. As a result, a ceramic microprosthesis is made and attached to the tooth with special cement.

The installation scheme for single crowns looks like this: after processing the dental tissue and removing the nerve, a pin or inlay is inserted into the cavity, after which the outer surface of the tooth is ground to the thickness of the future crown, made according to the preliminary impression. When the preparatory work is completed, the crown is placed on the tooth, fixed with special cement.

In case of installation of bridge prostheses, the following actions occur:

• Examination of the oral cavity
• Treatment of teeth that are subject to grinding, if necessary
• Grinding of supporting teeth
• Taking an impression of the future dental prosthesis
• Trying on, adjusting and fixing the orthopedic non-removable structure. At the same time, the teeth are checked for correct closure and aesthetics. If there are any shortcomings, the prosthesis is adjusted.

Like dental crowns, a bridge prosthesis is fixed to the teeth with dental cement.

Caring for fixed dentures

To ensure that your new teeth serve you as long as possible, you should follow several rules, namely:

• Dentures, like natural teeth, are cleaned at least twice a day with a medium-hard toothbrush and toothpaste. Additionally, the dentist advises using mouthwash, dental floss, toothpicks and special brushes to clean hard-to-reach places and interdental spaces.
• You should not eat very hard foods, such as pistachios
• You cannot clean dentures with needles or other sharp objects

To sum up, we should conclude that in the modern world there are practically no unsolvable problems for a dentist, and if you suddenly lose a tooth, there are many ways to find an excellent replacement!