Dental Applications That Replace Lost Teeth
Posted on: 9 November 2017
People who have lost a large number of teeth may find it difficult to meet their nutritional needs. In addition, they may suffer from undesirable changes in their appearance, such as hollow cheeks and gapped smiles. Nevertheless, there are dental applications available to replace lost teeth, restoring the functionality and appearance of the mouth. Here are a few of those applications.
Fixed Dental Bridges
Fixed dental bridges can be used to replace one tooth or multiple teeth. The bridges are held in place by the appliance's connection to dental implants or to teeth that border the gap in the mouth.
A conventional fixed bridge contains false teeth in the center of the appliance. The false teeth are bordered by a bridge crown on each end. The crowns attach to implants or natural teeth to fix the bridge in place permanently.
Although the bridge is not removable, it is still important to clean the appliance thoroughly. Plaque that builds up on the bridge can cause gum inflammation. In addition, it can promote the decay of the remaining natural teeth.
To clean the bridge properly, the appliance should be brushed thoroughly with a toothbrush. Additionally, the space between the false teeth of the bridge and the gums should be flossed.
Hybrid Dentures
People with a full palate of missing teeth are often great candidates for hybrid dentures. The dentures restore the ability to chew and have the appearance of straight, white teeth.
Still, hybrid dentures are different from traditional dentures. Both dentures are made using a mold or impression of the mouth to ensure an exact fit. However, hybrid dentures are held in position by their connection to dental implants. Traditional dentures rely primarily on the natural suction produced by the denture's fit in the mouth. As a result, traditional dentures may slip about, causing embarrassment and making speaking and eating difficult.
In order to connect to dental implants, the hybrid dentures contain a mechanism on their underside that attaches to specialized abutments on the implants. The implants, which are prosthetic dental roots that rest inside the bone of the jaw, provide the same stability that a natural tooth root would.
Many hybrid dentures are removable. They can be taken out of the mouth for cleaning and put back into place as often as desired.
For cleaning, the hybrid dentures can be soaked in a denture-cleaning solution and gently brushed to remove plaque and debris. When rinsing the dentures, only cool or lukewarm water should be used to discourage the warping of the appliance from heat exposure.
For more information about teeth-replacement options, schedule a consultation with a dentist in your local area, such as Port Orange Dentist.
Share