Despite the fact that over the past decades, dentistry began to develop at an accelerated pace, doctors still try to adhere to those methods of treatment that allow you to maximize the preservation of teeth. What type of prosthesis is recommended by doctors? Not always shown to install removable. Fixed prostheses, provided they are justified, can also solve many problems with the oral cavity.
Many patients are faced with such a problem as extensive damage to the teeth up to their complete destruction and loss. Many are interested in fixed dentures for teeth. Which are better? The photos presented in this article will help to imagine how this or that model looks. But in any case, the doctor will choose the right kind.
Causes of pathological processes in the teeth
Total tooth damage depends on many reasons. Most of them are of a social nature. Here, an important role is given to the legacy of the dentistry of the Soviet period, the inability in most cases to properly clean. Polluted ecology, constant stress, overwork and so on are also negatively affected.
In any case, whatever the cause of tooth decay or loss, fixed prostheses remain the most optimal solution to the problem. At the same time, dentistry does not stand still. To make your smile attractive, this branch of medicine uses many innovative methods.
Features of fixed prostheses
Dentistry widely uses fixed dentures for teeth. Which is better in this or that case is up to the doctor. Fixed prostheses that help repair damaged or missing teeth also come in varieties. The choice of a particular model depends on the degree of complexity of each particular case and the individual characteristics of the human body. The article will examine in detail the main types of fixed prostheses, their distinctive features and indications for use.
Using veneers
In the event that the teeth are slightly damaged and are visible with a smile, the best solution would be to use veneers. Such fixed prostheses are thin ceramic plates that adhere to the front surface of the teeth. Outwardly, it is difficult to distinguish them from natural enamel.
The modern method of installing veneers involves a small grinding of the surface of the teeth, and the innovative materials from which the models are made make it possible to perfectly repeat the texture of transparent natural enamel.
If the tooth has small chips and cracks, as well as other minor but noticeable to the eye damage to the upper incisors, then you are advised to install veneers. It should be noted that they cannot be used for extensive carious tooth damage, as they often break down.
Using tabs
If the teeth are damaged not only in front, but also from below, and the pathological process is observed both on incisors and on chewing teeth, then fixed prostheses in the form of inlays based on ceramics are suitable for you. Such designs replace the usual fillings. They should be preferred, since with their help both a small part of the tooth and a vast area are restored, including those affected by deep caries.
Ceramic-based inlays, unlike composite fillings, are difficult to distinguish from natural dental tissues. Such material makes it possible to repeat any shades of enamel. Another difference between ceramics and composites is that the substance does not absorb coloring pigments, pores do not appear on it, and it is not subject to destruction. Therefore, ceramic inlays change much less frequently than fillings.
Crown application
In cases where a large part of the tooth has been damaged or destroyed, it is not recommended to remove it. In a similar situation, fixed prostheses in the form of separate dental crowns are used. With their help, you can restore even a badly damaged tooth, provided that at least one of its roots remains intact.
The crown is a fixed structure that is able to imitate a natural tooth with all its anatomical abilities. This design is fully involved in speaking, chewing and other functions that are inherent in healthy teeth. The basis of the crown can be metal, cermets and ceramics.
Material Features
For crowns made of different materials, the disadvantages are different:
- Metal crowns do not have aesthetics. In addition, they have a short service life. They will stand for about 5 years.
- Structures made of cermet are distinguished by a large thickness of the frame, because of which there is a need to remove many layers of the tooth. Their base is made of metal, so such prostheses on the front teeth may differ in color from neighboring teeth.
- Ceramic crowns are more fragile, but the cost is higher. Doctors give preference to them, since the structures are durable, the material is better perceived by the body. Such prostheses are ideal in terms of aesthetics. And all this thanks to the material of manufacture. Ceramics do not cause allergic reactions and are widely used in dental practice.
Fixed bridges
Bridge structures are used to replace missing teeth. They are fused models that can simulate a series of three to four elements.
How does dental prosthetics occur in this case? Fixed prostheses of this type are attached to extreme healthy teeth, which act as a support. Bridges are mounted on specially machined live teeth of the patient. As a rule, nerves are removed from supporting teeth. The essence of the model is three or four crowns combined into a single whole.
Are bridges considered a good solution in the field of prosthetics?
Dentures are a good way to quickly restore missing teeth. However, modern dentistry considers this method as temporary. Bridge installation is indicated in emergency cases when any other alternative is excluded. For example, for certain reasons, the patient is not shown implant-based prosthetics.
A bridge is the past rather than the present of dentistry. Why? As already mentioned, this method requires the grinding of adjacent healthy teeth and removal of nerves from them. A prosthesis in the form of a bridge in place of a missing tooth does not provide a full load on the jaw and does not stop bone resorption. Also, the design is not able to perform many other functions of a healthy tooth.
It should be noted that it is not necessary to get used to the bridge for a long time. Also, it does not contribute to changing the taste of food. In shape and color, the design imitates natural teeth. A bridge is made according to the cast, which is made taking into account the oral cavity of the patient.
Adhesive Bridge Model
Unlike the prosthesis method described above, the adhesive bridge includes only one crown, which replaces the missing tooth. This design is equipped with special mountings on the sides that cling to the abutment teeth.
In comparison with the bridge, an adhesive device is considered preferable, since when it is installed, it is not necessary to grind healthy teeth adjacent to the missing one. Nevertheless, such a model has exactly the same drawback as a conventional bridge. An adhesive prosthesis cannot fulfill the full function of a healthy tooth.
Fixed implant prostheses
Is it possible to install a complete fixed prosthesis? As already mentioned, the choice of a fixed denture model depends on the individual case and the characteristics of the human body. However, if one or a whole row of teeth is missing or if they are destroyed to such an extent that they require removal, the use of implants is considered the best way. What it is?
The implant is a cylindrical titanium root that is implanted in the jaw bone. A few months later, a crown made of ceramic or cermet is put on such a pin. This method of replenishing missing teeth is an excellent alternative to complete prosthetics, which requires long-term addiction and is not always successful.
Implants perfectly imitate the crown of a natural tooth. As for the period of engraftment of devices (it ranges from 4 to 6 months), a temporary prosthesis based on lightweight plastic can be installed on the patient. Implantation in the complete absence of teeth is the most optimal solution to the problem. In this case, the use of fixed prosthetics on implants gives the patient the opportunity to restore the lost chewing functions, attractive appearance and comfort when wearing the prosthesis.
How to care for fixed structures?
With regard to the care of fixed structures that are installed on the front and chewing teeth, it should be carried out in the same way as it is done for healthy teeth. It is recommended to adhere to the basic rules of oral hygiene, and also visit the dentist’s office twice a year and carry out a professional cleaning procedure.
Specific denture care products
Of the specific funds, various pastes and rinses can be noted. An irrigator is also used. Doctors strongly recommend using this device for those people who do not have any prostheses.
Prices for fixed structures
Prices for fixed prosthesis models vary depending on the amount of restoration work required, the material used to make the prosthesis, and the degree of complexity of its installation. The average price for a ceramic tab is from 2,000 to 50,000 rubles, depending on the category of clinic. In addition, the cost of tooth treatment must be added. Installing any tab model requires careful oral care.
As for the cost of veneers, here the restoration of one tooth on average costs the patient from 15,000 to 50,000 rubles in dental clinics of an economical and premium class, respectively. Innovative models of solid ceramic crowns with manufacturing and installation will cost from 18,000 to 50,000 in blades of a different price segment. In the case of implant placement, the price of the implantation procedure should be added to the cost of the crown. In Moscow, it will cost 30,000 rubles in economy-class clinics and 80,000 rubles in the premium segment.
Reviews about fixed prosthetics
Prosthetics with fixed prostheses for many patients helped to solve problems with the oral cavity.
A case was noted of a patient who had unhealthy teeth all her life. When visiting the dentist, the doctor advised her to install a ceramic-metal bridge with four teeth. Two weeks later, the prosthesis was ready. Addiction to it was very easy. The metal did not cause any allergies. The color of the artificial teeth turned out to be identical to the natural shade.
In a patient who installed a pair of bridges based on cermet, the result exceeded all expectations. The design made it possible to chew any food.
Many patients note the high functionality of cermet tabs. They retain their original appearance for a long time and look better than a seal.
What about dental implants? How do patients evaluate such fixed dentures? Reviews testify that they are given the greatest preference. According to patients, the implantation procedure does not cause any inconvenience, and healing of the gums occurs faster than expected. The implant takes root quickly and fully performs the function of a healthy tooth.