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Mobile prosthodontics include removable restorations which substitute for complete or
partial edentulism, i.e. the loss of all or of most of the teeth. They offer varying levels of stability and comfort depending on their type and the way they are attached to the remaining teeth.
Complete dentures are used as a mobile prosthetic solution when the patient has lost all of their teeth or they have a few remaining which are also problematic and must be extracted. They are comprised of two parts: the lower part, which is made of acrylic and basically plays the part of the gums, and the upper part which includes the false teeth. These are made of porcelain or acrylic. If problematic teeth must be extracted, we must wait for the gums to heal before the placement of the denture. In order for the patient to not remain edentulous for a long period of time, we may place what is known as an immediate denture on the same
day and remove in when the time comes for the permanent denture to be placed.
Complete dentures are constructed based on the models we make of the patient’s teeth, so that we can ensure the perfect fit and function of the restoration. These dentures may last for many years, but regular checks are required, as well as great care regarding their maintenance. An important issue is that, following the loss of natural teeth, the gums gradually recede due to bone resorption and cannot properly support the denture. During the regular check-ups, we assess the condition of the gums and of the denture and we proceed to repair or replace it accordingly.
Complete dentures restore oral function to a great extent, but do not in any way provide the natural feel, comfort and stability of dentures placed on implants.
Partial dentures (or bridges, as they are known) are removable prosthetics used when the patient has lost a lot, but not all of their teeth. They are comprised of a metal frame, an
acrylic base and false teeth. Just like complete dentures, they are not fixed in the mouth, but can be placed and removed during the day. Partial dentures extend to both sides of the
mouth, irrespective of whether there are missing teeth only on the right or left side. They are attached to some of the remaining natural teeth (anchoring teeth) by metal hooks, while
depending on the case, we may need to cover these teeth with crowns which have special slots for the hooks to be attached.
An aesthetically superior solution are partial dentures with precision attachments which are placed under the partial denture and are not visible, as may be the case with hooks. They are comprised of two parts (male and female), one of which is attached to the partial denture and the other to the crowns.
Onlay dentures are the best choice of prosthetics in the case of loss of all or most of the teeth. They can be attached either to the remaining natural teeth or to implants.
We can provide support to a denture by using two or more natural teeth or roots of natural teeth. For the stable placement of the denture on the gums, special fittings are used, by virtue of which the denture “fits” on the available roots.
A very effective solution for the support of dentures is the use of implants. Special protrusions are fitted on the implants and are attached to the respective slots at the base of the denture. The number of implants required is decided on a case by case basis. We can use 4 or more for each jaw.
