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Differences between removable and fixed prostheses

Before starting to talk about the Differences of Removable Prosthesis and Fixed Prosthesis, it is important to emphasize the 3 basic functions of a prosthesis and they are the following:

  1. Chew
  2. Talk
  3. Esthetic

Having this clear regardless of which prosthesis you have or are thinking about having a professional put you on, you must take into account that you can eat, speak and that aesthetically it looks as natural as possible.

 

Removable prostheses

As you may be thinking and its name indicates, Removable Prosthesis are those that the patient can remove and put on whenever they want. This type of prosthesis can be partial or complete, they are attached to the gum (or other teeth) by means of hooks.

  • Removable Partial Prosthesis, They are used when the patient still has some teeth that can help the retention of the prosthesis.
  • The Complete Removable Prosthesis, also known as “false teeth”, it is an option to consider for completely edentulous patients (who do not retain any teeth)

They should be cleaned at least once a day or after every meal, which is uncomfortable because cleaning the Prosthesis must be done outside of the mouth.

Within the Removable Prosthesis we can find the following:

  • Acrylic Prosthesis

They are chosen primarily for their low cost, inexpensive parts, and inexpensive labor. As it is made of acrylic material, it is "easier" to modify it after it has been made (fix in case of fracture, add a tooth).

  • Metal Prosthesis

Quite a few years ago it was a prosthesis that was considered luxurious, made of silver alloy, aluminum and other metals.

In our times its use is not recommended mainly for 3 reasons:

  1. Economy, it is a more expensive prosthesis due to the elaboration and materials.
  2. Once the prosthesis is fractured, it is very difficult to repair it and it is rarely the same as it was before.
  3. It is heavier than the acrylic prosthesis, after a long time it begins to wear down the teeth where this prosthesis is attached.
  • Flexible prosthesis

Unlike partial acrylic dentures, these do not have metal hooks to hold onto the teeth. Thanks to its material, it is easier for the prosthesis to adhere to tissues (compared to acrylic and metal prosthesis).

It is not indicated for all patients because it is a prosthesis whose material the larger the prosthesis, the more difficult to adapt to the patient's mouth because it has a percentage of contraction at the time of being performed and the more teeth it has the more difficult to adapt .

Indicated for patients with missing teeth in the front of the mouth and who do not want hooks or metal parts to be seen.

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We focus on the best treatment with implants to resolve the issues that occur when you lose teeth, so that our patients not only get a profit professional but also emotional.

Fixed prostheses

One pFixed prosthesis It is placed on abutments that can be teeth or implants, they remain permanently attached to the patient's mouth, therefore they cannot be removed. 

Regarding the cleaning of Fixed Prosthetics, it could be said that it should be done in the same way as “natural” teeth, the person does not need to remove them to clean them and there are no leaks of food debris as in Removable Prosthetics.

There are 2 classifications within Fixed Prosthesis depending on their fixation method

Fixed prostheses that are held on the patient's natural tooth. In class it is common for the tooth to be carved into what is known as a stump. The prosthesis is fitted and cemented on that tooth.

Prostheses that are fixed on dental implants, screws made of titanium that replace the root of the tooth. On this element is placed the crown and bridge that provides the functional and aesthetic part of the prosthesis,

Classes of Fixed Dental Prosthesis

  • Crowns

Natural teeth consist of two parts: the crown and the root. The crown is the enameled and visible part of the tooth and thanks to which we can talk, eat and smile. The root is the part that attaches the tooth to the jawbone. 

When a patient loses a tooth, specialists must install a titanium or zirconium "screw" on the jaw that performs the functions of the natural root, and a dental prosthesis is required to replace the crown.

  • Dental implants

It is a small screw that is inserted into the patient's bone. It is used to replace a complete tooth that does not have a root. 

There must be enough clarity on the crown and the implant, the implant is the one that offers a lasting hold and the crown is the one that provides the aesthetic and functional part of the denture.

  • Dental bridges

Dental Bridges are used to replace one or more contiguous teeth. It is a structure made up of a series of crowns that can be placed on implants or on the remaining tooth. 

One of the most notorious disadvantages of bridges compared to implants is that it is sometimes necessary to carve healthy teeth.

Another issue against it is that with the passage of time it is highly possible that both the gum and the bone of the part without teeth (edentulous) are diminishing, thus leaving a space between the prosthesis and the gum.

  • Hybrid prostheses

This type of prosthesis is aimed at patients with total absence of teeth (edentulous). Hybrid prostheses are made with acrylic materials, for this reason it can look a little less natural.

This procedure is recommended for those patients who have moderately lost bone.

Advantages of fixed prostheses over removable ones

  • The fact of not having to remove the prosthesis every time you eat to clean it, makes the fixed prosthesis much more comfortable.
  • The safety when chewing and speaking that gives the support and firmness that a Fixed Prosthesis provides over a Removable Prosthesis is something that must be considered a lot when deciding.
  • By maintaining proper dental cleaning and attending check-ups with the dentist, a fixed prosthesis can accompany the patient for a lifetime.

We are Premium Implant Network, a network of professionals with more than 25 years of experiencewe work with the best implantologists in Bogota and all the cities of Colombia.

We offer our clients the following services in Implantology: Crown on implant fixed Prosthesis on implants, hybrid Prostheses, Overdenture, CAD-CAM, All on 4.

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