If you have experienced the loss of one or several of your teeth, you know that you have many options for replacement of these teeth. A common option for people who are missing one or more teeth is a partial denture. If you have a partial denture, you know that there could be some problems associated with it. The good news is that if you have an existing partial denture, there might be options for you to live more comfortably and have a more reliable solution for your missing teeth.
What is a partial denture?
Partial removable dentures generally replace several missing teeth, adjacent or not. It is said to be partial because it does not replace all the teeth unlike the complete removable prosthesis; it is said to be removable because it can be inserted or withdrawn at will, unlike a fixed prosthesis which is put in place by gluing.
Commonly, to replace several missing teeth, a removable partial denture will rest on both the gums and the remaining teeth and will be held with the help of hooks on the adjacent teeth. This mechanical retention can make it more stable than a complete prosthesis. Partial dentures can be made with two different materials: resin and/or a metal frame. A metal frame denture allows for better preservation of the gum and adjacent teeth. A frame will be made of a metal alloy, which makes it lighter, more comfortable to wear, more resistant and better suited. This metal frame will be covered with resins and artificial teeth in the areas where you have lost teeth.
Even with advances in technology, a partial denture such as described above may still cause you problems in the long run. These problems can include:
* Irritation of the mucous membranes
* The partial denture can fit too tightly or, on the contrary, too loosely
* Hooks that fasten the partial denture to your other teeth can break
* Necessary readjustment after a while. Indeed, it is not the prosthesis that is involved but the evolving gums and the jawbone which deteriorates over time
* Chewing: eating with a partial denture can be difficult, as they can shift with jaw movement
Fixed Partial Dentures: A Better Treatment Option
Fixed partial dentures on implants are a great solution to replace missing teeth. Essentially, your dentist can fix your partial denture to your mouth with the use of dental implants. Your dentist is able to do this if you have an existing partial denture or if you need new ones made.
What is a dental implant?
A dental implant is a small titanium "fixture" used to replace missing teeth or diseased teeth that have been pulled out. It is surgically implanted in the jawbone to replace the root of your missing tooth. Dental implants are designed to maintain the surrounding gum and bone while replacing your teeth in a natural way over the long term. They are an alternative to traditional crowns, prostheses and bridges. Thanks to their aesthetics and the natural sensations they feel, dental implants can offer better results in terms of comfort, safety and reliability than conventional treatments. They allow you to chew, eat without problem, and chew as naturally as possible. These implants can then play the same role as the teeth, by working, in the same way as they do, using the same muscles for chewing. The gums then retain their tone and if any bone loss you have is not recovered, its progression is, most of the time, interrupted. The manufacturing process of these implants is of the highest precision and the prostheses, which are carefully chosen in color to perfectly match other natural teeth, require very little adjustment over a lifetime.
Characteristics of partial dentures on implants
Of course, nothing beats the original natural tooth, even a little damaged (you can always try to repair it), but when you no longer have a choice, implantology represents one of the most suitable solutions, as it is solid and closest to the original teeth.
How it works?
An implant prosthesis results from the insertion into the jawbone of a titanium “screw”. The shape and material of this screw will promote bone integration: the bone will “colonize” the implant and end up being completely and definitively welded to it. This process is called osseointegration.
Once the osseointegration is complete, a denture, perfectly mimicking the missing natural tooth or teeth, is attached to this “new root” made of titanium and bone. Several “teeth” can in fact be supported by a single new root:
* with a force relay system which can resemble a bridge, in the event of partial tooth loss
* in the form of a complete prosthesis (the famous dentures with false gums) fixed on a few implants well distributed in the jaw, in case of complete tooth loss
How are prostheses placed on implants?
First, your dentist takes impressions and X-rays, in order to study the shape of the jaw, the state of the bones and gums, and in order to know which teeth to extract (for a complete prosthesis in particular), and which implants should be preferred, their shape and degree of implantation.
The dentist will also see if there is a need for a bone graft in case of insufficient bone density, which will add surgical time and healing time to the whole procedure (approximately 6 months).
Second step: extraction and implants
This step requires 3 to 5 hours in one session, to extract the remaining teeth, if necessary, and to place several implants. In a few hours, following the implantology surgery, the provisional prosthesis is ready and can be placed on the implants.
Patients are generally very happy with this temporary prosthesis which already has a natural effect and which will allow the implants to “weld” to the jawbone. This prosthesis is in fact designed to distribute the forces so as to leave the places of the jaw where the new “roots” have been implanted at rest.
Third step: healing
During this healing phase, the jaw should be left at rest, about 4 months for the lower jaw, and 6 months for the upper one. In the immediate aftermath, do not hesitate to use cold compresses and arnica in homeopathy, as well as any other product recommended by your dentist.
You then have to wait several weeks before actually chewing: soups, yogurts, purees and compotes… The patients say they eat normally after three months on average, and Fourth step: installation of the final prosthesis
Once the implants are “welded” to the bone, a second surgery is planned. The dentist will check that it is the right time with an X-ray. This second surgery is quick and simple, all you have to do is incise the gum tissue at the location of the implants in order to expose their “heads” and fix the abutments for the prostheses. A short healing will still be necessary for the gums to surround these pillars properly (about 10 days).
after 6 months they no longer hesitate to bite into a real sandwich!
Fourth step: installation of the final prosthesis
Then, the time will come for new impressions and the study of the optimal final prosthesis with your dentist and prosthetist. You will decide on the shade and shape of your teeth. Once the prosthesis is built, it should be tried and modified if necessary. When it is in place, you can start a completely normal “dental life”. Patients say that there is no period of adaptation to the final prosthesis: it is perfectly natural, aesthetically and practically (at the masticatory and elocutionary level).
Fifth step: how to maintain a prosthesis on implants over time
You need impeccable hygiene, the details of which will be fully explained to you by your dentist. And once a year, you should plan a hygienist visit to a specialist dentist, to check the condition of the gums and implants, and to accompany you in your cleaning rituals.
You will not have to change or modify your prosthesis on implants, it is definitely yours, except in the event of accidental breakage (in the event of a fall for example). In this case, only the ceramic will need to be repaired.