Prosthesis

Prosthesis

Prostheses are prepared materials used to repair or replace teeth and surrounding tissues in cases where they have lost material due to various reasons or have been completely destroyed, i.e. lost.

What is the purpose of prostheses?

The aim of prosthetics is to restore the lost functions of the patient, while at the same time correcting the impaired speech and improving the aesthetic appearance. In this way, oral health, which has been lost to a great extent, is restored and individuals who have to live with missing or ruined teeth in society are supported psychologically.

Because individuals who have to live their lives in this way (even for a while), first of all, forget to smile. This leads to functional disorders as well as a loss of self-confidence.

Various prostheses for such patients aim to improve their quality of life

Types of prosthesis

Prostheses made as a result of tooth loss are generally of two types:

• Fixed prostheses
• Removable prostheses

Fixed prostheses

They are prostheses that replace the visible parts of the teeth in the mouth and cannot be removed by the patient. They can also be called veneers or porcelain teeth.

Fixed prostheses are made in the restoration of teeth with excessive loss of material due to decay or other reasons, discolored teeth and teeth whose color cannot be reversed, teeth with deformities. Teeth are shaped in such a way that a crown is made. Then they are measured and prepared in laboratories according to the directions of your dentist. After the rehearsals are done, your veneer is bonded and the process is completed. Veneers should be maintained in the same way as healthy teeth. A well-made veneer should be no different from a healthy tooth in terms of function and cleaning. These teeth are made of porcelain, precious metal combinations, special glass materials and special plastics according to the choice of your dentist.

Bridges are prostheses made with the support of other neighboring teeth in order to replace missing teeth. In the construction of these restorations, abrasions are made on both neighboring teeth and the bridge connects all the teeth together. If a bridge is not made to replace the missing teeth, the patient’s neighboring teeth and the opposite tooth in the other jaw move towards the extraction cavity. Therefore, the impaired tooth closure leads to tooth decay and tooth loss. As with veneers, the teeth to be taken as support are shaped by your dentist and the same procedures are performed. The maintenance of your veneers is done by cleaning the lower part of the part placed in the cavity with special Dental Pross as indicated by your dentist, in addition to routine maintenance procedures.

Removable prostheses

Removable prostheses are prostheses made to replace tooth loss in cases where fixed prostheses cannot be made. Unlike fixed prostheses, they are removable. They are made of special plastic or metal-plastic combinations. They are made to provide aesthetics and function. In cases requiring removable prosthesis, there are too many missing teeth, so it is necessary to fulfill the chewing function and to prevent damage to the other remaining teeth. Removable prostheses are made in cases where all or most of the teeth have been lost.

Removable prostheses are made of a combination of special plastics and metals or only special plastics, depending on the case. The teeth used in removable prostheses are usually selected from plastic teeth. Porcelain teeth are not recommended because they transmit weights and forces inappropriately to the soft tissues and do not provide a good connection with the plastic. To care for removable dentures, they should be removed and brushed after each meal. They should be cleaned once a day with special cleaning agents. Since some substances may damage metal-containing prostheses, they should not be used without consulting a physician. When not in use, you can keep your prosthesis in clean water to prevent it from losing water and deteriorating. You should have your removable prosthesis checked every 3 years and replaced if necessary. Over time, the prosthesis may wear out, break or lose its harmony with the jaw. This can damage the jawbone.

For removable prostheses, the first 1 month is the adaptation period in terms of chewing and speech functions. In addition, any incompatibilities (bumps) that may be caused by the prosthesis should be eliminated with the controls to be made.

The loss of a tooth can damage your health in many ways. The teeth in front of and behind the lost tooth lean towards the gap. The opposite tooth also grows into the extraction cavity. This is because the teeth tend to come into contact. As a result of this elongation and bending, the alignment of the teeth and their contact with each other are disrupted. This increases the accumulation of food debris and bacterial plaque between the teeth. These areas are difficult to clean and the risk of tooth decay and gum disease increases. All these problems can be prevented by replacing the lost tooth. However, it is more difficult to replace the lost tooth after bending of the neighboring teeth and elongation of the opposing tooth.

All these methods have advantages and disadvantages. Your dentist is your biggest help in deciding which method is best for you.

In removable dentures, the metal hooks used to hold the denture to the natural teeth in the mouth are called “clasps”. Many people are uncomfortable with the appearance of these metals in their mouths. However, developing dentistry technology offers us a much more aesthetic solution in this regard. By using “Precision Retainers” or atelescope crowns, the appearance of metal hooks is prevented from spoiling the aesthetics while holding on to the teeth.

Precision Retainers

In removable prostheses, the system used instead of the metal parts called ‘crochet’ and used to ensure the retention of the prosthesis is called ‘precision retainer’. The teeth in front of the edentulous area are processed in the same way as in the veneer and the fixed part of the precision retainers is cast in such a way that it is fixed to the veneer made on these teeth. The movable part is included in the removable prosthesis to be made. Except for the clasps, the movable part is made as described in the removable prosthesis. Precision retainers are more preferred for better aesthetics and retention, and to prevent caries and other problems that may arise as a result of food accumulation caused by crochets.