Dental Prostheses

ProteesimineThere are two main types of dental prostheses: fixed and removable prostheses. Additionally it is possible to combine different types of prostheses, so that only a certain part of the prosthesis is removable.

 

There are different options depending on the problem:

 

Dental crowns are used to restore teeth that have been severely damaged or broken because of trauma. The old tooth is filed down on each side to make room for the crown. Next, an impression of the tooth is taken and sent to the dental lab where a crown can be made. Finally, the new crown is cemented onto the tooth. This will take a minimum of two visits to the dentist, each visit would last around one hour. The carcass of a metal-ceramic crown is made out of metallic alloy, which provides the needed durability, and is covered with porcelain for aesthetic purposes. A well-made crown lasts for a lifetime.

 

Bridge prostheses are used to replace a missing tooth (or teeth) and/or to fill a large tooth gap. If only one tooth is being restored, an impression of the adjacent teeth is taken and that impression is used to make a bridge prosthesis, which is then cemented onto the teeth adjacent to the missing tooth. The adjacent teeth have to be filed down first. The colour of the bridge prosthesis is chosen according to the colour of the adjacent teeth. The whole procedure takes about two one-hour visits. A bridge prosthesis can be used to replace individual teeth, but the adjacent teeth need to be filed down to do this. The missing tooth is hung from the adjacent teeth, so to speak – that is where the name of this prosthesis comes from. Well-maintained bridge prostheses can last a lifetime.

 

Dental veneers are porcelain shells attached to the surface of a tooth. They are durable as well as natural looking. The front side of the tooth needs to be filed down just a little to preserve the normal thickness of the tooth. A special composite cement is used to attach the veneers to the teeth. Two visits are needed to install veneers. A well-installed veneer looks excellent. Sometimes, when people age, the height of the crown rises – in other words, the gum line recedes – and the edge of the veneer might become visible on the neck of the tooth.

 

In certain cases, the root of the tooth can be treated and a fixed prosthesis. can be built on it. If the crown of the tooth has been partially damaged, the destroyed part can be fixed with fillings or artificial crowns or inlays constructed at the dental lab. In the case of partial tooth loss, partial (removable) prostheses could be used as an alternative to bridge prostheses.

 

Partial prostheses are removable. These types of prostheses are used to restore multiple teeth, but only if the patient has enough supporting teeth. The advantage of a partial prosthesis is that it is attached to the teeth with supporting clasps. In addition, the rests on the carcass of the prosthesis distribute the chewing force to the healthy teeth.

 

Full prostheses need to be installed if there are no teeth left and they attach to the jawbone.