Prosthodontics
What is prosthodontics?
Teeth loss causes aesthetic, functional, and phonation problems. The treatment of lost teeth and surrounding tissues is possible with fixed prosthesis, implant prosthesis or removable prosthesis.
In which case coating/bridge restoration prostheses are preferred?
Fixed prostheses are used to treat deficiencies by filling the teeth that are too severely destructed or too high in material loss. Existing teeth in the mouth shall be cut slightly, for these cut pieces to be used for further support. The fixed prosthesis (coating or bridge) is adjusted and adhered to the teeth. Prothesis use provides great comfort to the patient as they remain fixed in the mouth like natural teeth.
What kind of porcelain is used in the construction of the bridge/coating?
Metal substructures are used for crown coatings and bridges. As an alternative to these, porcelain with zirconium substructure is also used to provide a more aesthetically pleasing look.
Does the quality of the porcelain affect the success of the prosthesis?
One of the most important things to consider about porcelain veneer coating and bridges is the quality of the material used. As the metal used in the infrastructure of porcelain is the main part to surround, hold the teeth, and contact the gum; the quality of it is very important. The quality of the metal depends on the amount of gold blend it contains in its structure, which is defined as a precious metal. Porcelain veneer crown/bridge restorations prepared with high-quality precious metal blend provide long service life.
What kind of material is zirconium?
Zirconium; is a white metal extracted from the nature. Zirconium is a harder material and more resistant to pressure compared to porcelain with classical metal substructures. In addition; the risk of error is minimized as it is scanned and produced in digital computer environment.
What are the advantages of zirconium?
Zirconium, as it does not have any metal substructure, does not cause gray discoloration around gums. Because of its light permeability, a very natural image is obtained, and it is difficult to distinguish the material from natural teeth. The opaque image seen under sunlight in porcelain with classic metal substructures does not appear in zirconium porcelain. At the same time, zirconium is a very high temperature resistant material and provides very good thermal insulation. This allows consumption of hot-cold foods without worrying about sensitivity and the pulp of the cut tooth would not be damaged due to heat changes.
In which cases are implants preferred? What are the advantages of an implant?
Implants; are titanium biocompatible screws placed in the jaw bone and imitate the lost tooth root. One of the biggest advantages of the implants is to allow replacement of the missing teeth without the need to cut the teeth next to the cavity. In this way, your healthy teeth are not used as support and would not undergo any further operation. For the patients who do not want to use removable prostheses, it is possible to make full dentures which are stable in the mouth and provide ease of use by utilizing implants. As it can be seen, implants provide us with more solutions and comfortable use for cases that involve missing teeth.
Is it painful to undertake the implant procedure?
Implant surgery is not a painful or agonising process despite common concern. As the operation is performed under local anesthesia, no pain or soreness would be experienced. Following the procedure, patients can continue their daily tasks with no restrictions on eating or drinking. Paying attention to the dentist’s advice, along with regular medicine use, would result in a healthy and problem-free healing process.
How long does the implant treatment last?
Porcelain veneers, placed upon the upper structure of the implants, can be prepared within 3 to 5 months after the surgery. This is also considered to be the period known as the ‘healing process’ in which the implant becomes fully integrated to the jawbone. There are some factors that may shorten or lengthen this process. The most important factor is the brand of the implant and the reaction of the jawbone to the treatment.
Which material is the implant made out of? Would it cause any harm to the human body?
The titanium material used in the implant is a substance compatible with the gum and jawbone. It does not cause any allergic reactions in the human body while also being resistant to breakage. Titanium is a stainless steel and resistant to high temperatures. It is not affected by strong chemicals such as acetic acid, calcium chloride, ammonium chloride, nitric acid.
In which cases are removable prostheses preferred?
Removable prostheses; are considered to be used in cases when the number and position of teeth in the mouth do not allow a fixed prosthesis, as they are prepared only with the support of the surrounding soft tissues (gums, oral mucosa) and hard tissues (jawbone, palate). It is used by placing the removable denture on the remaining teeth in the mouth with the hook or the sensitive anchor. If no teeth are left in the mouth, these removable prostheses would be called “complete dentures”. Complete dentures are fully supported by the oral mucosa and the jawbone.