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PROSTHETICS
Prosthetics – what is it?
Prosthetic treatment has many aspects today. Above all, it concerns patients who for various reasons have lost their own teeth and need to fill the gaps, which is important not only as a facilitation of speaking or eating, but also prevents the pathological movement of remaining teeth and longer their lifetime. Prosthesis are also the basic method of treatment for patients suffering from genetic diseases and defects, when the teeth do not erode or their buds are not formed at all.
Dental prosthetics has been changed by the implantology that allows to supplement the missing teeth and to stabilize the total prostheses based on implants. Nowadays more and more often, prosthodontics specialists become specialists in aesthetic dentistry, digitally designing the perfect smile of the patient, and then, using veneers, reproducing it in reality.
Prosthetics – types of treatments
The offer of procedures offered by modern dental prosthetics is very wide and adapted to the individual needs of the patient. There is the traditional treatment of missing teeth by means of permanent and removable restorations, as well as the improvement of aesthetics with veneers or prosthetic crowns. In our office, we perform all types of prosthetic restorations of the highest quality – restoration on individual inserts, crowns and metal bridges covered with porcelain or all-ceramic ones, which are the most aesthetic, complete and skeletal prosthesis. We also design and make restorations based on implants, both crowns and bridges, as well as partial and total dentures.
We have a Cerec system, thanks to which we can complete the project in a short time. The great convenience for the patient and the implantologist (see: implantology) is the fact that we have our own prosthetic laboratory, which allows a holistic approach to each patient. This allows us planning the ideal prosthetic work in the cooperation of implantologists and dental prosthetists specialists.
An extremely important part of the work in the prosthetic office is designing the smiles of our patients. Based on the analysis of photographic documentation, carried out in accordance with the Digital Smile Design protocol, we plan aesthetic reconstruction of teeth to obtain a Hollywood smile for everyone. Our specialists make ceramic and composite veneers using the best materials available on the market to meet the requirements of even the most demanding patients.
Prosthodontics – the course of the procedure
Before starting prosthetic treatment, it is necessary to have a detailed physical examination in order to get a full picture of the patient’s problems (which are often complex, resulting from many years of neglect) and to plan comprehensive treatment. The doctor usually offers the patient several options, presents their advantages and disadvantages. It is patient who decides about the method which will be used. Then he receives a plan of subsequent visits.
Before starting work on the supplementation, especially when aesthetics is very important, the so-called mock – up, or a wax model is prepared, which allows assessment of the future reconstruction in the oral cavity. The number of visits depends on the type of supplementation. Between the visits, the dental technician performs next laboratory stages. Because of our own prosthetic laboratory, the doctor and technicians can efficiently cooperate during all stages of work. This guarantees the highest quality of service.
In the case of prosthetic reconstruction on implants, after the end of the surgical stage (implantation of implants) the patient immediately goes to the prosthetist physician, who previously worked with surgeons in the design of the implants, and now continues work according to the agreed plan.
Prosthetics – indications and contraindications
All patients with single and multiple tooth defects are eligible for prosthetic treatment. It depends on the joint decision of the doctor and the patient what kind of supplementation will be performed. However, prosthetics is not limited to replacing lost teeth with artificial teeth.
The prosthetist physician as a specialist in the mutual relations of the dental arches and their contacts both at rest and during the movements, is able to diagnose and treat diseases associated with TMJ (temporomandibular joint) disorders. This includes all muscle pains and even headaches associated with incorrect connection or teeth grinding, dysfunctions in the temporomandibular joints (crackling, jumping), excessive teeth abrasion or mutual damage to the teeth. We are able to help any patient with such ailments.
For the most demanding patients, prosthetics becomes a part of aesthetics dentistry. Various deformations of the shape of the teeth, discoloration, or the lack of symmetry, as well as the subjective feeling of the patient about the need to improve their own smile are for our specialists the opportunity to demonstrate the talent of the artist. With the veneers, our patients start smiling from ear to ear again!
Most prosthetic restorations are based on the patient’s own teeth or bone (rebuilding on implants), therefore they are contraindicated in children, so as not to disturb the growth of the jaw or mandible. Fortunately, children usually do not need prosthetic treatment, except for small patients suffering from serious genetic disorders associated with rapid loss or congenital lack of teeth. Contraindications for adults include epilepsy, allergies to materials used to make prosthesis, as well as caries, periodontal and oral mucosa disease. Of course, these last contraindications are only temporary, and disappear after conservative treatment (see: conservative dentistry) or periodontological treatment (see: periodontology), which we also provide in our clinic.
Prosthodontics – frequently asked questions
What should I do if I feel discomfort, "too little space" in my mouth the day after my prosthetic restoration?
It is natural and associated with the tongue and lips getting used to previous conditions. Fortunately, man has excellent adaptation skills and after a few days he gets used to the prosthesis. Of course, at the last visit related to prosthetic treatment the doctor will recommend follow-up visits in order to make corrections to the supplement. If, however, before the date of the follow-up visit, the symptoms are significant, or on the mucous membrane appears pressure ulcers, you should immediately consult your physician.
How to care for the prosthesis hygiene?
All recommendations are forwarded to you by the doctor with the finished prosthesis. The most important are the thorough cleaning the prosthesis after each meal, preferably with a special paste (ordinary toothpastes have a lot of abrasive substances and over time they cause a worse fit of the prosthesis). Movable prosthesis should be removed from the mouth for night and kept in a dry environment. Holding the prosthesis in a glass of water causes the absorption of water through the material and problems with fitting due to minimal shape changes. We should also remember that prosthesis, especially moving ones, are not eternal and even perfect hygiene will not ensure complete elimination of bacteria which deposit on them for years. The conditions in the patient’s oral cavity also change, which worsens the fit of the prosthesis. Therefore, they require regular exchanges, preferably every 2-3 years.
