What is worth knowing about tooth replacement?
- The primary medical goal of prosthodontics is to treat functional disorders: correcting bite, restoring chewing ability, eliminating voice production difficulties and speech defects.
- Of course, aesthetic considerations are just as important, as missing teeth have a negative impact on our appearance and image, with serious psychological and social consequences.
- In addition to all this, dentures are also a preventive treatment to avoid the lesions that may develop later due to toothlessness.
- Sometimes, for some reason - insufficient bone volume, contraindicating underlying diseases, financial considerations - it is not possible to have implants, but thanks to technical progress, the natural look and feel, the satisfactory functionality of other tooth replacement methods can be achieved in almost all cases!
- Which of the many options is used depends on the patient's age, physical and mental condition, the duration, location and extent of the tooth loss, the patient's willingness to cooperate, and financial means.
- Tooth loss in adults can be prevented by good oral care at home, regular dental hygiene (plaque removal) and dental check-ups, and periodontal treatment as soon as possible if necessary.
Possible consequences of tooth decay
- chewing function is reduced, digestive disorders occur
- speech disorder, changes in tone of voice and phonetics
- bone loss occurs in the jaw
- lesions or infections in the affected gum area
- intact teeth move towards missing teeth
- the features change, the face becomes sunken, premature wrinkling begins
- self-confidence decreases, self-image becomes negative
- social life and social participation are impaired because of negative perceptions from the outside world and a sense of shame
Dental prostheses
Crown
It is used to restore severely damaged, extensively cavitated teeth or to replace missing teeth. It is made in a dental laboratory from an impression taken by a dentist. The crown covers the prepared tooth and the implant abutment in a cap-like manner. If there is not enough tooth material to make a crown (e.g. for root canal or chipped teeth), a stump build-up with a filling material or a tapered stump is required.
Bridge
When several adjacent teeth are completely missing or damaged to the extent that the chewing function of the teeth is impaired, the bridge provides the best solution. The bridge is placed over the implant or the border of the missing the tooth or teeth surrounding the gap.
Crowns and bridges can be metal-based or metal-free:
Metal ceramic crown, bridge
Metallic ceramics is the colloquial short name: porcelain fired on metal, porcelain covered with a metal crown is the longer, more "scientific" name. It is the most commonly used dental restoration due to its favourable price/performance ratio and durability. Thanks to the metal frame, it is stable, fracture-proof and durable as a dental bridge, which means it is also a good solution in case of missing teeth. Today's metal frame restorations are both aesthetic and natural-looking, as the shade of porcelain used for the veneers can be perfectly matched to the colour of the original teeth. The disadvantages are that this solution cannot be used in patients with metal allergies and that over the years, as the gums recede, a grey streak may appear at the border of the crown.
Metal-free crowns, bridges
In addition to providing outstanding aesthetic results, metal-free restorations are non-allergenic due to their tissue-friendly nature. They avoid the appearance of a grey metallic strip at the base of the gums.
Today's most innovative dental restorative material is zirconium, as its hardness rivals that of metals, making it even stronger and more durable than metal. Because of its load-bearing capacity, it can also be used safely for replacing molars, building longer bridges and complete circular bridges.
It has the added advantage of being colour and translucent to give an aesthetic result similar to natural teeth, which meets the highest demands. It is therefore highly recommended for filling in gaps in the smile area.
Made of zirconium so-called CAD/CAM bridges and crowns are made using state-of-the-art technology, with a perfect fit thanks to computer-aided design and manufacturing.
Removable or partially fixed replacements
Full dentures (removable)
Most often in old age, the number and positioning of the remaining teeth no longer allows for a fixed bridge replacement. In such cases, we prepare a removable prosthesis for the patient.
The process does not require major oral surgery, so the procedure is quick and painless. Next-generation dentures, made with modern technology, are natural-looking and, because they ideally support the muscles and lips, they fill in a sunken face due to edentulism. The colour, shape and bite height of the denture are individually tailored to fit the mouth and blend harmoniously into the face. With wearing the chewing function and voice production are normalized, the damaged self-confidence is restored, the negative self-image is significantly improved, as well as the feeling of well-being and quality of life.
Complete upper and lower denture with implant fixation
In most cases, 4 implants can be placed in both the upper and lower jawbone. A complete removable prosthesis is fixed to the superstructure. The denture is stable and does not move when eating or speaking, so it is not uncomfortable to wear.
Telescopic anchored denture
If the patient has 1-3 remaining teeth, the best solution is a telescopic anchoring denture. The remaining teeth are prepared by the dentist, and the dental technician uses the sample to create perfectly matched primary and secondary telescopic crowns. The primary telescope is placed on the tooth, fixed with adhesive cement, and the secondary telescope is built into the denture. These crowns are made of platinum and gold alloy. A telescopic denture provides both functional and aesthetic benefits.
Combined dentures
A combined prosthesis is a combination of fixed and removable prosthesis: the removable part, the denture, is attached to the fixed, firmly fixed element in the mouth. It is a complex and difficult dental work to prepare. A crown is made on the teeth, to which the removable part is attached by means of various fine mechanical fasteners (e.g. sliders). The fastening elements remain hidden from the outside world. The denture is smaller than traditional dentures, so it is more aesthetic and does not affect daily life, comfort, sound production, taste perception.
The procedure for tooth replacement
The course and duration of the tooth replacement procedures may vary, but the basic steps are the same.
- Consultation, health check: A comprehensive assessment and precise dental planning, taking into account your circumstances and needs, are essential for successful treatment.
During the consultation, we assess what the patient can commit to in terms of length of treatment, costs, aesthetic needs and long-term expectations. The condition of the patient's teeth and oral cavity is also a determining factor. Based on the information gathered and the results of the panoramic X-ray/CT scan, our specialist will prepare a personalised treatment plan, which will show how the treatment will be carried out, what the patient can expect in terms of time and cost. In many cases, other treatments (e.g. calculus removal, filling of cavities, root canal treatment) are also necessary to achieve the optimal condition for the intervention. - The procedure: The treatment procedure varies from person to person and from type to type, but whatever the procedure, it requires multiple appointments and close cooperation between the dentist, the dental technician and the patient.
- Control: A check-up is required 7-10 days after the denture is placed, followed by two more check-ups after 3 months and another 6 months. After that, the patient is expected back for a check-up every year.
- Care and maintenance of dentures: Although strictly speaking the intervention consists of the above steps, it does not really end here. The results obtained must be preserved, for which a thorough and properly executed home oral care is essential. Failure to do so can lead to inflammation of the periodontium, gums and decay of the remaining natural teeth. Regular dental hygiene treatment every six months/yearly is important, as plaque and tartar can adhere to any hard surface in the oral cavity, including dental fillings and artificial restorations!
Why delay any longer?
Never before has it been so "easy" to deal with tooth loss as it is today, as dental prostheses - whether the simplest and most cost-effective or the most complex solution - are invariably made with innovative technology, advanced materials and high aesthetic and functional standards.
Say yes to perfect teeth, say yes to a full life!
