Clasp prostheses: types, description, advantages and disadvantages

Gum disease or insufficient dental care leads to rapid loss of crowns. Naturally, there can be no talk of any aesthetic appeal or normal functionality of the jaw. To correct the situation, specialists use a clasp prosthesis.

What is a product?

Clasp prosthesis - a special design, which consists of a cast arch, a plastic base and artificial crowns. Most often it is used if implants cannot be mounted.

For several years, such products have been used to restore a partially damaged dentition. Thanks to the use of modern materials, it allows you to recreate crowns, restore the functionality of the jaw. The arc, which is made of metal, provides the strength and reliability of the device.

Product Advantages

Clasp dentures are used by almost all dentists. They have such advantages:

• High aesthetics. The dentition is fully restored, so the beauty of a smile does not suffer.
• Longevity. Due to the durable plastic and metal, the structure is capable of experiencing significant loads (it is not worthwhile to overload it) and serve at least 5 years.
• Ease of use. Dentures of this type are very easy to install and fix.
• A good distribution of the load on the gums, as a result of which they atrophy more slowly.
• Reliable fixation.
• High durability. The likelihood of destruction of the prosthesis is negligible.
• The ability to leave the product in the oral cavity at night.
• The ability to install on implants.

Among the advantages of clasp prostheses, one can also single out a quick adaptation of a person to a product. It does not change speech, is securely fixed. In addition to the fact that the patient restores the functionality and appearance of the dentition, the specialist is able to conduct periodontal treatment.

Product disadvantages

Despite all the positive qualities of this design, it is not available to everyone. The disadvantages of clasp prostheses are as follows:

• The high cost of some models of the product, since their manufacture requires time and various materials.
• They cannot be established if the teeth in the oral cavity are completely absent. For such a design, the basis on which it will be mounted is important. If there are no crowns at all, then you will first have to install implants that have a high cost.
• Clammer joints worsen the aesthetic appearance of the dentition, since their attachments are visible.

However, such disadvantages are minor. Wearing clasp prostheses (reviews about them are mostly positive) can eliminate a lot of problems, so they are used quite often.

Indications and contraindications for use

Clasp prostheses are performed only according to the indications of the attending physician. It takes into account the presence of supporting crowns, the condition of the gums, as well as other factors. Indications for use are as follows:

• End or included damage to the dentition.
• The absence of one or more teeth.
• Unilateral or bilateral defects.
• Enough enamel is not strong enough.
• Periodontal disease.
• The curvature of the dentition.
• Malocclusion.
• High degree of abrasion of the patient’s natural crowns.

However, all conditions must be created for the installation of the structure. You can highlight such contraindications for installation:

• The presence of less than 4 own support crowns.
• Small tooth height.
• An advanced form of periodontal disease (a disease in the last stage).
• Acute inflammatory process on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity.
• Intolerance to the structure as a whole or to the elements of the clasp prosthesis.
• Diabetes.
• Mental disorders.

You should not install the product for people with serious pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, as well as cancer.

Product Classification

Such types of clasp prostheses are distinguished

1. By the method of fastening: simple clasp, complex clasp, splinting structures, products on telescopic legs. Also in this group are articles on locks (simple, complex, one-sided). Clamper products are characterized by fixing the structure on the arms that cling to adjacent crowns. To fix the lock products, grooves in the abutment teeth are required. If it is interesting which clasp prosthesis is better, then the closure allows to achieve high aesthetics. In addition, it allows you to evenly distribute the load on the dentition and gums.
2. According to the material of manufacture: non-metal (the arc is made from very durable plastic), from an alloy of chromium and cobalt, as well as gold and platinum. The first option is perfect for those patients who suffer from various allergies. The latter type is extremely expensive.

The choice of product depends on the characteristics of the supporting crowns, the degree of destruction of the dentition.

Stages of manufacturing a prosthesis

Clasp dentures take time to manufacture and install. This process consists of the following laboratory and clinical stages:

1. Examination of the patient. The specialist should assess the condition of the periodontal, oral cavity, support columns. If inflammatory diseases are present, they must first be cured. At this stage, a plan for further work is also being developed.
2. Preparation of supporting teeth. The technician must take the impression. This procedure takes approximately 2 hours.
3. Making an impression tray in a laboratory.
4. Additional impression taking on which prostheses will be made.
5. Low tide model of the jaw of gypsum. Immediately there is the creation of a model of the future prosthesis and arch. To do this, apply wax. At the same stage, the design basis is made.
6. Trying on a wax frame. Then the specialist makes the fitting of the product.
7. Making a plastic mold. It is also grinding and polishing.
8. At the last stage, the structure is manufactured and customized.

The whole process of manufacturing and installation takes 7-20 days. However, if the oral cavity is in poor condition and there are inflammatory processes, then this period may be delayed. Attaching dentures of this type is painless.

Care Features

Regardless of which fixation of the clasp prostheses was used, the design must be looked after. Otherwise, its service life will be reduced. To keep the product clean, you must follow these rules:

1. Clean dentures twice a day. To do this, they should be removed. You can also rinse them with special tools that prevent the development of bacteria on artificial crowns. When choosing toothpaste, you need to use such products that will not harm the crowns. It is better to abandon bleaching agents.
2. Store products in a special container. You can pour a disinfectant solution into it.
3. To prevent the product from breaking during chewing, do not eat too hard foods. It is important to learn how to properly attach the prosthesis. If it is fitted exactly, then difficulties with fixation usually do not arise.
4. It is important to protect the structure from damage. Too hot food, direct blows to the face, accidental falls can not only lead to damage to the prosthesis, but also worsen the condition of a person.
5. If you drink a lot of strong tea or coffee, the product may turn yellow.

In order not to spoil the artificial material, do not use abrasive cleaners.

Professional care

After installing the design, the patient must appear at the dentist every 6 months for a routine examination. If necessary, he performs professional cleaning of the prosthesis.

Most often, ultrasound is used for this. Also, the dentist can adjust the design if a person feels some discomfort. If there is a risk of product breakdown, you must immediately go to the dental technician. In most cases, it can be quickly eliminated.

What to do in case of structural failure

In some cases, the clasp structure may break. This is due to improper installation or operation of the product. If the prosthesis fails, it can be repaired. The duration of this procedure depends on the degree of complexity of the breakdown:

1. If the cast frame is out of order, then the specialist must make a new prosthesis. This takes 4-5 days.
2. When breaking the arc, a new design is also needed.
3. If the artificial crowns are strongly worn out or dropped out, they should only be replaced. This will take no more than 2 days.
4. If the lock breaks, it can be quickly repaired.

Proper use of the prosthesis will restore the functionality of the jaw for a long time. You don’t have to use implants, the installation of which will cost the patient 30-40 thousand rubles apiece.

Product cost

It cannot be said that clasp structures are cheap, but they are affordable in comparison with other types of prosthetics. The average price range is as follows:

The cost of the product depends on the complexity of the design, as well as the quality of the materials used for its manufacture.

Patient Reviews

When choosing arch prostheses, reviews of other users are very interesting for the patient. They help to make a choice. Most patients say that such designs are quite convenient to use. Getting used to the product requires a minimum amount of time. The advantage of the prosthesis is its strength, reliability of fixation, as well as an acceptable cost.

Some patients experienced discomfort in the first days after installation, but it was not significant. There are also cases of product breakdown, but they occurred due to improper use of the device. At the same time, specialists were able to quickly repair the structure.

Clasp dentures are removable structures that serve to correct many defects in the dentition. They are easy to use, strong and durable. However, such products also require appropriate care. Only in this case, the design will last a long time.