When teeth are badly decayed, deteriorated or damaged, dental prosthetics help restore functionality and appearance. They are available in different forms, depending on the patients’ needs and preferences.
Whether permanent or removable, dental prostheses are designed to fit into the patient’s mouth perfectly and look esthetically natural. They also allow the patient to chew comfortably and speak normally.
Dental Implants
Implants are titanium anchors placed in the jawbone to hold replacement teeth. They look, feel and work like natural teeth. They also help prevent the bone loss that occurs when a tooth is missing. Dental implants can also help ease the discomfort associated with a partial or full denture.
The dental prosthetics market is growing due to several factors including increasing number of patients suffering from dental caries and periodontal diseases, rising expendable income and expanding tourism industry. Moreover, increasing population and growing geriatric populace are boosting the demand for dental prosthetics.
A dentist who offers dental prosthetics must be a doctor who specializes in conditions of the mouth, jaw and face (oral and maxillofacial surgeon), or a dentist who designs and fits artificial teeth (prosthodontist). Dental prosthetics require a comprehensive exam to ensure proper fit and comfort. The patient must practice good oral hygiene and have regular professional cleanings to maintain healthy gums and prevent disease. The patient must also be committed to a lifetime of good diet and lifestyle habits to ensure optimal implant success.
Veneers
Veneers are a cosmetic dentistry treatment that improves a tooth’s appearance by covering its front surface with a thin shell. They are less invasive than crowns and can cover discolored, chipped, or misshapen teeth. They are fabricated from porcelain or resin-composite material, and they can last for 20 years with proper care.
Before applying veneers, a dentist will grind the enamel from your tooth and take a mold of it. Then, they will fabricate the veneers to fit your teeth and color, so it will blend in with your smile. Once they have been fabricated, your dentist will attach them to the surface of your tooth using a special cement and etch the area. This process roughens the tooth, so the bonding will be stronger.
After getting veneers, you should be careful to avoid foods and drinks that stain your teeth, like coffee or red wine. You should also avoid biting your fingernails or chewing on objects that could crack or break the veneers. Additionally, you may experience some sensitivity during the bonding procedure and afterward.
Crowns
A crown is a kind of dental prosthesis that covers and protects damaged teeth, often but not always larger teeth like molars. It is also used to close spaces in the mouth or to make cosmetic changes such as reshaping or rotating teeth. Crowns can be made from a variety of materials, including ceramics and metal alloys. Metal alloys are created by mixing pure elements together to create a new substance with better physical properties than any of the pure elements could have on their own.
Dental bridges are another type of dental prosthetic, used to fill in gaps caused by missing teeth. They can be supported by natural teeth on one side or by implants on the other. The type of bridge used depends on the patient’s preference and the condition of the teeth that are supporting the bridge.
Dental implants are a very advanced kind of dental prosthetic that replaces a missing tooth or teeth. They are surgically implanted into the jaw bone and, once healed, can hold an artificial tooth. They look, feel, and function just like a natural tooth, and with proper care can last a lifetime.
Bridges
Bridges are a special type of dental prosthesis that help fill in gaps where teeth are missing. They are anchored to the natural teeth on either side and use the undercuts of those teeth to hold them in place. Unlike implants, bridges are not permanent and will need to be replaced eventually.
In addition to repairing the appearance of teeth, dental prostheses can also improve speech. Certain sounds are shaped with the tip and edges of our teeth, so when we lose those teeth, it can make our speech sound slurred. Replacing those teeth can restore these sounds and improve the quality of our speech.
Removable dental prostheses take time to heal, and will need doctor visits to ensure they are fit correctly. This process will vary depending on what kind of dental prosthetics you get, with veneers and crowns taking the longest to recover fully.
The global market for dental prosthetics is growing due to an increasing incidence of tooth decay, gum diseases and other oral health conditions. Moreover, a rise in expendable income, expanding dental tourism and blooming cosmetic industry are also driving the growth of this market.
Dentures
Dentures are a removable prosthetic that replace missing teeth. They can be full or partial depending on your needs. They are fabricated to look natural and they provide support for the cheeks and lips. They also help decrease the amount of bone loss caused by missing teeth. This happens because a tooth root exerts pressure when you chew and this helps to maintain the structure of the jawbone.
Missing teeth affect more than just your smile; they can also cause you to lose weight due to decreased appetite. They can also make it harder to speak clearly and to pronounce certain sounds like sibilants and fricatives. Lastly, gaps in your smile can make you feel embarrassed about your appearance.
To make a denture, we will take impressions of your mouth with trays filled with special type of dental putty that is chemically activated to harden when mixed. You will bite down into each tray so we can get a mold of your upper and lower teeth. Then the mold will be used to make your new denture.