Types of Dental Prosthetics for Implants
Modern medicine can resolve a wide range of dental problems affecting both health and appearance. Sometimes, a dental prosthetic is necessary to correct a debilitating problem, while others seek them to resolve issues with how they look. In either case, the quality of life is significantly improved by relatively safe procedures that can replace natural components of the mouth and jaw.
Other People Are Reading
-
Function
-
Dental prosthetics span a wide range of uses. Crowns protect or replace parts of a tooth. Dentures provide a full replacement for most or all of an individual's teeth. Dental bridges may replace a smaller set of missing teeth in a particularly weakened area of the mouth. More significant prosthetics may replace parts of the jaw due to trauma. Despite the variations, types of prosthetics are often categorized based on other factors than function.
Connections
-
Dental prosthetics can be connected to the body in two ways. These methods are one way in which implants may be differentiated. Most common are implants which attach into the bone via screws or other surgical processes. These are referred to as endosteal prosthetics. Less frequently used are subperiosteal implants, which do not penetrate the bone and instead are attached on the surface of the bone using wires or similar mechanisms.
-
Staging
-
There are two primary types of procedures for implanting a dental prosthetic with regard to the time and steps involved to complete the installation. These are delineated by the "staging" necessary to secure the prosthetic. Single-stage implants are accomplished in one surgery, with all aspects of the prosthetic attachment completed at one time. Two-stage implants require an initial surgery to prepare the attachment site, and then a second surgery to install the prosthetic after the site has healed.
Jaw Bone
-
The structure of a patient's jaw determines the type of dental prosthetic that will be implanted. Since most implants require attachment to the jaw, thin or weak jawbones may prevent certain procedures. A ramus-frame implant is designed to allow prosthetic functionality despite a thin lower jaw by positioning the key attachment mechanism further in the back of the mouth. By contrast, a transosseous implant relies solely on the strength of the lower jaw to support the prosthetic.
Material
-
The material comprising the device is an important distinguishing characteristic of dental prosthetics. Some of the most important developments in dental implants have come from the reliability and versatility of new material designs for these devices. Modern dental prosthetics can be made from titanium, zirconia, stainless steel or special variations of aluminum. Different materials affect appearance, the installation options, and lifespan of the implant.
-
References
- Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Neil
