What Are Dental Prostheses? How Is It Treated?
Dental prostheses are produced to eliminate tooth loss and related discomforts of the patient. Cavities caused by tooth loss cause patients to have difficulty chewing and speaking and digestive problems. It also has adverse effects on social life for aesthetic reasons.
What is a prosthetic tooth?
Dental prostheses are the teeth specially produced for the recovery of the teeth that the person has lost for various reasons. There are some essential points to be considered when applying prostheses that can be made from one or a few teeth to complete tooth loss. These are that the prosthesis fits perfectly in the mouth of the person, has a natural pattern, and is easy to use.
The application's main purpose is primarily to restore the lost chewing function and increase the patient's quality of life. In addition, as a plus, the negative effects of broken, discolored and deformed teeth are also eliminated by this application.
Advantages of Prosthetic Teeth
Dental prostheses are the only solution to tooth loss and the advantages are:
- Ends the problem of tooth loss,
- Eliminates the psychological problems,
- Gives a healthy chewing function,
- The biggest obstacle to a balanced diet is eliminated with the gained chewing function. Thus, a beneficial solution is produced for general body health,
- Speech disorder caused by tooth loss is corrected. At the same time, the sounds that cannot be removed are made removable again.
- Damaged oral tissue regains its former health thanks to prosthetic teeth. In addition, oral health is protected.
Types of Prosthetic Teeth
In prosthesis applications, the main thing is to protect the existing teeth and complete the deficiencies. There are generally two different types:
- Fixed Prostheses
- Removable Prostheses
Fixed Prostheses
They are the types of prosthesis used in cases where tooth loss is low. As the name suggests, they are not prostheses that can be removed voluntarily because they are fixed. The priority is fixed prostheses is to decide on the type and color of the prosthesis applied.
Achieving a natural look is very important. For this reason, first of all, color selection should be made according to the existing teeth. The compatibility of the prepared dentures with the teeth and oral tissues is examined, and rehearsals are taken to avoid a negative situation. At the same time, chewing is more comfortable in fixed prostheses and contributes positively to the person's speech and aesthetic appearance.
Fixed prosthesis types include:
- Metal Supported Porcelain: It is a type of porcelain veneer in which various metal alloys produced for oral and dental health are used as INFRASTRUCTURE TO MAKE PORCELAIN DURABLE. Metal-supported porcelain fixed prostheses can be used in almost every situation.
- Zirconium: It has been developed because metal-supported PORCELAIN prostheses cause aesthetic concern. In addition to being frequently preferred in terms of aesthetics, its resistance to breakage is also among the reasons for preference. It is the most preferred prosthetic material. It is a white metal element. Zirconium prostheses, which are quite durable, have high efficiency in terms of functionality and aesthetics. It is a light transmittance, smooth and natural looking material that is suitable to be applied to individuals with metal allergies. It is used to eliminate enamel loss in cases of tooth crowding where orthodontic interventions cannot be performed. It is also a preferred solution for implant-supported prostheses.
- Lamina: This process, which can be performed on a healthy tooth, is a type of coating on the tooth. It is the process of sticking the prepared thin leaves to the front surfaces without applying much intervention to the teeth. There will be a small ABRASION on the tooth, and sometimes it can be done WITHOUT ANY ABRASION. Therefore, the prosthesis application causes the least damage to the teeth. The lamina application, which is applied only in the anterior teeth, is applied in the discoloration of the teeth, hiding the cavities or restorations of the fractures.
- Full Porcelain Crowns (Empress and Emax): There is reinforced porcelain in its infrastructure. Laboratory stages are carried out within computer-aided special scanner and printer systems. They are also the most aesthetically advanced coatings.
Removable Prostheses
They are types of prostheses that can be removed and fitted by the patients themselves. They are used in cases where there are natural teeth but not enough to support the fixed prosthesis. They are also applied in the absence of any teeth. During the application, support is provided from the existing teeth and tissues. Types of removable dental prostheses are:
- Whole (Total) Prostheses: They are dental prostheses applied when there is no tooth left in the mouth. They are called dentures or palate prosthesis among the people. They are specially produced according to the mouth size of the person. They are designed to receive support from the tissues in the mouth. They are used in a healthy way at the end of the adaptation period for about 5 weeks.
- Partial Prostheses: It is a treatment method used in cases where some of the natural teeth are not present in the mouth. It is also popularly known as partial prosthesis or hook prosthesis. It is attached to the existing teeth on both sides by means of wires called crochet. Wire image can be prevented by various applications.
- Temporary (Immediate) Prostheses: It is applied if there are teeth that need to be extracted before the construction of permanent dental prostheses. Temporary prostheses are created by taking measurements before the teeth are extracted. Then, it is placed in the gaps opened after the extraction, and the patient is not left without teeth. During this period, permanent prostheses are prepared. Then, when the damaged oral tissue is healed, temporary prostheses are removed and permanent ones are placed.
- Implant-Top Prostheses: In order for dental prostheses to hold more securely in the mouth, implants can be applied first, and the prostheses can be attached to these implants. In this way, the prosthesis attaches to the implants placed on the jawbone, providing a more comfortable feeling in chewing and speaking.
