Fixed and removable prostheses

Dental prostheses are artificial teeth that replace natural teeth. The types of prostheses that are most frequently used in dentistry are fixed dentures, removable dentures and dentures on dental implants.

The fabrication of dentures must meet both functional and aesthetic criteria, and we should encourage the patient to maintain careful hygiene.

Fixed Prostheses

Fixed prostheses are those which are completely tooth-supported, that is to say, they derive there support solely from the teeth.

The dentist incises the teeth which are to serve as support (abutment teeth), located at the ends of each edentulous (toothless) area which will be cemented. These are called dental crowns when they restore a tooth or a bridge, filling the absence of one or more teeth.

The materials used in its design and fabrication using CAD/CAM are zirconium porcelain, metal porcelain, or pure porcelain.

Dentures

Also called removable, because they may be put in and taken out by the patient. There are two groups, namely:

a. Removable metal or acrylic prostheses, known as skeletal. They are partial tooth-tissue supported dentures, which is to say, they are fastened both to the teeth and the gums, and are used when the patient still has some of their natural teeth. They are used when the patient has some residual tooth that can contribute to retention of the forged or cast, retainer prosthesis therefore making them tooth-tissue supported.

b. Removable acrylic or complete prostheses, commonly known as "partial dentures", are used when the patient has no tooth and are made from resin, being therefore tissue-supported due to the lack of support for clamping.