Prosthetic Treatments in Dentistry: A Comprehensive Overview

Prosthetic Treatments

Many people in our country and around the world use dental prostheses. The number of patients receiving complete or partial dentures is increasing every year. These types of removable prostheses are important not only for restoring lost aesthetics, but also for improving function (chewing) and phonation (speech).

Compared to other prostheses used in the body, intraoral prostheses are generally easier to adapt to. Although they are considered the closest replacement to lost tissues in terms of aesthetics and function, an adaptation period is required after fabrication. During this period, the cheeks, lips, temporomandibular joint, tongue, and brain need time to adjust to the prosthesis. Any difficulties experienced during this process can usually be overcome comfortably through good cooperation with your dentist.

Partial and Complete Removable Dentures (Full Dentures)

Removable dentures have been used for many years to restore missing teeth caused by partial or complete tooth loss. These prostheses are supported both by the remaining teeth and by the edentulous (toothless) areas of the jaws. The stability of these dentures in the mouth varies depending on the condition of the supporting teeth and tissues.

Complete dentures cannot receive support from teeth, as there are no remaining teeth in the mouth. In the upper jaw, complete dentures resist gravity through a suction effect, whereas in the lower jaw, the movement of the tongue, lips, and cheek muscles can negatively affect denture stability. Over time, increased muscle tone and adaptation of the muscles to the denture may improve the stability of lower dentures.

In cases of partial tooth loss, if a removable denture is preferred, additional support can be obtained from the remaining teeth using clasps or precision attachments, resulting in more stable prostheses. The main advantages of these prostheses are their affordability and relatively short fabrication time. However, disadvantages include possible wear and decay of abutment teeth caused by clasps, excessive forces transmitted to the supporting teeth and tissues leading to tissue breakdown, insufficient force transmission to the jawbone resulting in continued bone resorption, and the necessity to remove the denture at night.