A fixed prosthesis consists of a device made to measure from the mouth of the patient with one or several dental pieces that is placed in the mouth to replace the loss of the teeth.
We could distinguish two types of fixed dental prostheses, those that are supported by dental implants, and those that rest on healthy teeth of the patient.
- Fixed prosthesis on teeth: In this case the prosthesis is fastened on the patient’s own healthy teeth , so that a great support and firmness is achieved. For this the dentist needs to carve and wear both in width and height the 2 teeth located at the ends of the edentulous area (without teeth), forming what is known as a stump, so that later the prosthesis can fit over them to be able to cement it and in this way to achieve a durable fixation. The main disadvantage of this type of prosthesis is precisely that it is necessary to damage two healthy teeth to achieve the fixation of the prosthesis.
- Fixed prosthesis on dental implants: In this case, the prosthesis is fastened on one or several titanium implants that act as root of the tooth, and on which the dental prosthesis is attached, either a crown or a bridge with several pieces.
Types of fixed prostheses
If we distinguish the prosthesis according to its shape we can distinguish 3 types fundamentally:
Crowns
Also known as “sleeves” by patients, they consist of individual prostheses of a single tooth . These crowns are placed on the natural tooth of the patient previously carved, or on a dental implant whether they are screwed or cemented.
These teeth are made by hand by a prosthetist in the laboratory, taking as a measure the impressions taken in the clinic and adapting the crown to the color and shape of the rest of the patient’s teeth, to achieve the greatest possible mimicry with the rest of the mouth .
There are two fundamental types of crowns: those of metal-ceramic and those that are totally ceramic.
Dental bridges
It is a type of prosthesis used for the replacement of at least one tooth, therefore consists of a minimum of 3 pieces , two of which are called retainers and which are cemented on the natural teeth that will act as pillars and support the bridge. The rest of the pieces of the bridge whose function is to replace the missing pieces are called pontics.
Complete dentures
It consists of a Gradia or Adoro hybrid prosthesis, is screwed on dental implants, and completely replaces the teeth of one or both arches . It is made with a computer-designed micro-reinforced metal reinforcement on which will be gum artificial rose and prefabricated veneer gradia (a type of composite).
Its main advantage is that they have no palate and are very aesthetic.
Denture or dental prosthesis
Advantages of fixed prostheses over removable prostheses
Fixed prostheses are much more comfortable than removable prostheses , by not having to remove it after each meal to clean it avoiding the disorder that this entails. On the other hand, the support and firmness provided by a fixed prosthesis is much higher than that of a removable prosthesis, achieving greater safety when chewing and talking.
Fixed prostheses require greater care and hygiene, as well as a review process by the senior specialist. One of the problems of dental bridges when they are fixed on teeth, is that with the passage of time it is very possible that both the bone and the gingiva of the edentulous part is decreasing, leaving visible hollows between the prosthesis and the gum that They make you lose a bit of the aesthetics and functionality of them.
