Do you have teeth that are severely decayed or damaged?
Have past restoration methods begun to fail?
Are you missing one or more teeth due to an accident or necessary tooth extraction?
If you must replace missing teeth or fix damaged teeth, one of the best solutions is to have a fixed dental prosthesis installed.
In this article we describe the main characteristics of fixed dental prostheses and their advantages and disadvantages.
What are Fixed Dental Prostheses?
Fixed dental prostheses are used to replace missing or damaged teeth. They are referred to as fixed because they are installed on a permanent basis, meaning that they cannot be removed by the patient, being bonded to the natural teeth or to artificial roots.
There are three different types of dental prostheses:
• Individual dental capsules
• Dental bridges
• Dental crowns
• Prostheses anchored on dental implants
Dental Capsules
If the outside surface of a tooth has been damaged beyond repair by tooth decay or other types of trauma, then the tooth can be rebuilt or reinforced using a dental capsule.
Dental Bridges
The bridge consists of a line of crowns that are placed both on teeth that still exist in the mouth or on manufactured implants. It is important to keep in mind that sometimes the bridge requires healthy teeth to be filed so that it can be adjusted. In the long term, this could lead to a loss of firmness in the grip.
A condition that sometimes happens over time with bridges is that bone loss occurs due to the lack of a dental root, which results in a reduction of the gum, causing gaps between the gum and the bridge.
Dental Crowns
Dental crowns are versatile since they can be placed on the implant or on a natural tooth. They require a significant filing of the surface of the healthy tooth so that it can be implanted correctly.
Dental crowns can help with chewing, as well as those related to aesthetics. One of its great advantages is that they adapt naturally to the mouth and the patient does not have the sensation of being loaded with a prosthesis.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial tooth roots made from titanium screws that are implanted into the jawbone. Once they fuse with the surrounding bone, they are exceptionally strong and can support a dental prosthesis.
If individual teeth are missing, then one capsule will be installed on each implant, whereas if several teeth are missing in a row, then a dental bridge can be installed, with each resting on two or more implants.
They are made up of two pieces: the implant that replaces the root and the crown that provides the aesthetic and functional factor, the implant replaces a tooth that was lost and whose root was removed from our jaw.
It is placed through surgery that requires local anaesthesia.
Advantages of Fixed Dental Prostheses
The advantages of a fixed denture over a removable one are:
· Greater comfort (no need to remove them to clean them)
· Greater grip
· Greater firmness
· Higher reliability and comfort
· Better dental aesthetics
Dental Prostheses in Panama
If you are in any of the situations described above, please contact Clínica Dental Champsaur to arrange a review of your teeth and to detect if it is necessary to place a fixed prosthesis to restore function and dental aesthetics.