Prosthodontics: the replacement tooth

Oral prostheses or prosthodontics is the specialty of dentistry that is based on the replacement through dentures, missing teeth or severely damaged. The goal of prosthodontics is to restore the functionality of the patient's mouth, and also maintain the aesthetics of the smile.

Types of dentures

In this dental technique, different types of dentures are distinguished. Basically they can be grouped into two broad classes:

• Fixed dental prosthesis, is one that the dentist places in the jaws of the patient so that he will not be able to withdraw from his mouth without action the dentist.
• Removable dentures: unlike fixed, this allows the patient to remove itself from the mouth itself.

Similarly, according to the number of pieces of teeth to replace the prosthesis can be:

• Complete dentures: is a prosthesis that forms a whole jaw with all its teeth of the corresponding arcade.
• Partial Denture: This is used when only requires changing some teeth, but the patient can still maintain some teeth themselves.

As for prosthesis placement, this can be supported:

• In the gingiva own patient, such as removable resin complete denture ranging adjusted by this system.
• On the patient's teeth, as is done in partial dentures, both fixed and removable.
• On the dentist implants fixed in the patient's bone as a root and artificial abutments.

Prosthesis fixed prosthodontics

Thus, the fixed prosthesis can hold it by the teeth or pillars of the patient, or on artificial implant abutments. It may be unitary, consisting of a crown or cap of teeth, partial or formed by several teeth or implants, or complete, whether simulating one to one all natural teeth, or in a block if bears on implants. This is called hybrid fixed implant prosthesis.

In the case of these fixed prostheses on implants, according to the procedure and made ​​fixing the dentist , may be:

1. Screwed onto the implant itself or on a pillar that in turn is screwed to the implant.
2. Cemented on implant abutment, as if it were a real tooth carving.
3. Overdentures: these are partially fixed complete dentures, which are anchored to the pillars of the implants by a type of adimento called anchors.

Curiosity: there is also the prosthesis that is called Skeletal prosthodontics, and consists of a removable partial denture formed by a metal skeleton that fits over the patient's own teeth.

What dental prosthesis need?

You should always resorted to the dentist, who is informed of all the different types of prostheses, as well as trained to prescribe the type of prosthesis that best suits the needs, characteristics and preferences of each patient.

Edited by Roser Berner Ubasos.