The prosthesis is that part of dentistry that deals with the replacement of missing teeth in the oral cavity. The term dental prosthesis includes a variety of treatment options, which are chosen together with the patient, planning the most appropriate aesthetic and functional solution.
Dental prostheses have the task of rehabilitating the oral functions of patients suffering from partial or total edentulism (lack of teeth), by replacing natural teeth with artificial dental elements. Some types of prosthetic interventions can be used to correct functional as well as aesthetic anomalies in the shape, color or position of natural teeth.
The types of prostheses are mobile and fixed, the latter is performed when the prosthesis attaches to natural teeth or implants, while the mobile prosthesis rests on the patient’s gum, which means that the patient can move it.
The latest scientific updates (highlighted more in the last 10 years) inform us that before the fixed prosthesis was performed only when natural teeth were present, while now through implantology it can be performed even when patients who have more of their natural teeth .
The further innovations concern the composition of the materials, which allow the prosthesis to be more and more similar to natural teeth and gums (dissilicate, zirconia, alumina), i.e. to obtain high-precision dental prostheses that allow the external part of the tooth to be coated with a thin layer of ceramic.
Dental prostheses should meet the following parameters:
Functional: the patient must chew normally and have regular articulation functions (opening, closing, left-right laterality, protraction and retraction and correct phonetics). it must be functional, the patient must eat and speak well and feel comfortable.
Resistant: the prosthesis must resist the forces of chewing and be resistant to the liquids of the mouth, it must be resistant all the time, it must be adjusted because our mouth changes over time, but it must guarantee good resistance, that is, it must not break .
Not allergic: it must be prepared with materials that do not damage the oral cavity.
Aesthetics: the artificial teeth must be the same as the patient’s natural teeth in order not to alter the profile., Must be as similar as possible to the patient’s natural dentition or to what the patient had, ensuring a beautiful aesthetic.
Hygienic care of dental prostheses must be systematic and constant. Daily brushing with a toothbrush in cold water needs to be repeated after each meal. Dentures, once brushed, should be kept in a humid environment to prevent the resin from dehydrating You may also be interested in Excellence in removable and fixed dentures
Types of dental prostheses
Dental prostheses can be classified in several ways.
According to the anchor supports:
The prostheses can be hooked to the teeth (dental support) to the gum (mucous support), to the teeth and gums (mixed) and also to implants (hybrid and implant-supported).
Based on the portion of the mouth where they are placed:
• Complete dentures: replace all teeth, upper, lower or both arches.
• Partial dentures: they only replace some teeth.
Furthermore, a distinction can be made between non-removable and removable prostheses:
• Non-removable prostheses: the patient cannot remove these prostheses from the mouth, only the dentist can do it during the visit. They are fixed to teeth or implants with special cements and to the latter also with screws.
• Removable prosthesis: these are what are commonly called “take off and put on”. The patient can easily take them off and put them back in the mouth. They are fixed by attachments (whether teeth or implants), hooks or are simply placed on the mucous membranes.
