After extraction of one or more teeth it is advisable to make a denture which will replace the individual missing teeth. This is very important because, on the one hand, it enables us to restore the natural life activity, which is chewing food, and on the other hand, it prevents the remaining teeth from moving, weakening or gradually bending.
Nowadays, prosthetics has developed significantly, making it possible to create a restoration in almost any case. At the same time, the materials used are more durable and aesthetic, and (which is particularly important for patients) comfortable to use.
At our dentist's office in Gdańsk, during a prosthetic consultation, we determine together with the patient what type of prosthesis will be best suited to their needs. This decision is made by many factors, such as the location of the gap in the dentition, the condition of the remaining teeth and many others.
Due to the wide range of dentures used in dentistry, a qualification has been created, dividing the different types according to the way they are fixed. The former are distinguished by the fact that they cannot be removed without the intervention of a doctor. They are permanently placed on the patient's teeth.
This category includes mainly:
* crowns - they are used in case of severely damaged or too small teeth; they can be placed on both living and dead teeth; they significantly strengthen the natural structure of the tooth and at the same time affect the aesthetics of the dentition,
* bridges - they are used in case of lack of one to several teeth; the condition for their placement are healthy and strong adjacent teeth, which are to become a pillar for the bridge.
Removable dentures, on the other hand, allow for their free removal, e.g. in order to clean the food from particles or for the night. Although this solution is considered less aesthetically pleasing and comfortable than crowns or bridges, it also has a significant advantage. It is an even distribution of the force during chewing over a larger area, which does not burden the remaining teeth. This type of restoration can be divided into both its range and the material used.
The first division is based on whether the denture is complete (filling in the whole dental arch) or partial (filling in a few missing teeth).
The second division is based on the methods and materials used to create the restoration.
It can be a denture:
* acrylic resin - made of acrylic resin, based on metal brackets, running on the surface of the remaining teeth,
* skeleton - most often it is inserted in the absence of several adjacent teeth, it is a more comfortable solution from the patient's point of view, because it does not disturb the sense of taste and takes up less space in the oral cavity.
How does prosthetic treatment work?
In the case of every patient who comes to our dentist's office in Gdańsk, we allocate the first visit to a thorough prosthetic consultation. We then check in detail the condition of the oral cavity, the number of missing teeth, as well as the possibility of using a specific restoration.
We also conduct an interview with the patient, learning about his or her expectations towards prosthetic treatment, as well as the general state of health. If necessary, we also take an X-ray (pantomogram), on the basis of which possible irregularities in the patient's dentition can be seen.
This consultation enables the dentist to prepare a proposal for the patient concerning the preferred methods of filling, the target effects of the treatment, as well as their costs. Based on the patient's decision, the dentist informs about the further course of the restoration process.
The next stage is to make special impressions, which will form the basis for creating a restoration, matching the patient's individual gum line. During this time, the colour of the denture is also adjusted.
At the next visit, the patient receives a sample filling made according to individual parameters, using wax. This allows to eliminate possible irregularities in the created form. Once it is properly adjusted to the patient's bite, a proper casting is made, which is passed on to the patient at the next visit.
However, the treatment does not end there. You should visit for a certain period of time, during which you will monitor the correct way the denture is placed.
