In case of loss of teeth or teeth due to different factors, the gap that occurs in the mouth causes the functions of the person such as chewing and speaking to be negatively affected. In addition to all these, aesthetic concerns may also arise. In this situation, which causes the person to be isolated from social life, prosthetic dental treatment methods come into play.
To Whom Prosthetic Dentistry Treatment is Applied?
Prosthetic dental treatment is mostly applied to patients who are late for treatment. Thus, the lost tooth or teeth can be regained with different types of prosthesis. Prosthetic treatment methods make the person feel better in terms of function and aesthetics. While the chewing and speaking function is restored to the person, it is ensured that the person feels good in terms of comfort and aesthetics. In this sense, prosthetic dental treatments are one of the important branches of dentistry. The materials used in prosthetic dental treatment are in a wide range.
What Are the Types of Prosthesis Used in Prosthetic Dentistry?
Although fixed and removable prostheses are generally used in prosthetic dental treatment, implant-supported prostheses can also be evaluated within this scope:
Fixed Prostheses: Fixed prostheses are a type of prosthesis made by taking support from existing healthy teeth or implants. These prostheses are fixed in the mouth with different chemicals. Some of the commonly used fixed prosthesis types can be listed as follows:
Crown
Crown, also known as veneer, can be defined as the removal of factors that disrupt the integrity of the teeth caused by large caries and tooth fractures. Thus, the integrity of the person's teeth is preserved and the functionality of the tooth is restored. In addition, the gaps between the teeth can be closed with a crown. Crown applications are made by fixing the veneer on the tooth after the tooth is slightly reduced.
Metal Backed Porcelain Veneer
Although the outer part of this type of prosthesis visible in the mouth is porcelain, the inside of the coating consists of metal. Therefore, the light transmittance is low. Therefore, although metal-supported porcelain veneers are aesthetically beautiful, they can create problems in terms of naturalness. It is not recommended to be applied on the anterior teeth of patients with high aesthetic expectations.
Zirconium Supported Coating
Zirconium veneers with high light transmittance are the type of veneer that is closest to the natural appearance in this respect. In these applications, also known as zirconium supported porcelain veneers, the visible part of the tooth consists of porcelain and the inner part consists of zirconium.
Ceramic coating
Composite lamina or ceramic crown applications are made without the need to reduce the tooth too much. The process performed at this point can be referred to as eroding the tooth. There is no metal in the lower part of this type of coating. Ceramic coatings are produced from reinforced porcelain. It is known as the most aesthetically advanced coating type. With this aspect, it is frequently used especially for the restoration of anterior teeth.
Bridge
In the bridge treatment applied in cases where one or more teeth are lost, healthy teeth next to the existing tooth gap are used as bridge pillars. In bridge treatment, which can be done with different techniques such as traditional, winged and suspended, a prosthesis is applied to replace the lost tooth or tooth group. Thus, the functionality and aesthetics lost by the person are regained.
Implant
One of the most commonly used prostheses to restore the effects of tooth loss is the implant. Different types of prostheses can be placed on implants made by placing an artificial tooth root in the jawbone.
Removable Prostheses
Removable prosthesis applied for patients who have lost one or more teeth are removable appliances.
Classic partial dentures
These teeth are attached to the remaining teeth in the patient's mouth with the help of hooks. The patient can take it out and clean it whenever he wants. It is also known as "hooked prosthesis" among the people.
Precision-fitted prostheses
The prostheses made by applying porcelain crowns to the natural teeth remaining in the mouth are called precision attachment prostheses. These prostheses are one of the types of removable prostheses that are attached without using a hook.
Full Dentures
Full dentures applied to patients who have completely lost their teeth are also known as "dentures" among the people. These teeth, which can be removed and inserted at any time, are more uncomfortable than other prostheses (implants, zircoma, etc.).
Immediate prostheses
They are removable prostheses that are applied immediately after the surgical operation of the patients who want to have implant treatment.
Dental prostheses
When viewed from the outside, full dentures are the teeth applied on the tooth or root that exist in the patient's mouth but will be removed after a while. These teeth get their retention from the caps made on the teeth remaining in the prosthesis.
Implant Top Prostheses
This type of prosthesis can be defined as the placement of fixed or removable prostheses on existing or future implants. The basic principle in implant prostheses, which can be applied to people who have no teeth but have the appropriate bone level for the implant, is to ensure the attachment of removable or fixed prostheses.
The prosthesis is fixed to the slots in the implants in the jaw. Thus, the holding power of the prosthesis increases, giving the person better chewing and speaking functions. For fixed prosthesis, 4 to 6 implants are made in the lower jaw and 6 to 8 implants in the upper jaw, depending on the size of the jaw.
For a removable prosthesis, there should be 2 to 4 implants in the lower jaw and at least 4 implants in the upper jaw. Fixed dentures on implants and removable dentures on implants can be made of materials such as metal, ceramic and zirconium.