Prosthodontics - Questions & Answers
In any clinical situation, there are several possible treatment solutions. In the case of edentulousness, complete dentures - removable restorations that adhere to the oral mucosa - are the basic and also the cheapest solution. The cost of making a set of dentures for the maxilla and mandible is within the range of 2-3 thousand zloty.
A more convenient solution is the use of implant-supported complete overdentures. In the case of harder jawbone, two implants are sufficient, and in the case of softer jawbone - four. After a period of integration of the implants, abutments are attached to which the complete dentures are attached. As a result, they do not show any mobility even with severe bone atrophy, which definitely improves the comfort of life of toothless patients. The cost of such a solution is several thousand zlotys.
The most convenient solution is the placement of about 6 implants each in the jaw and mandible, which allows to make bridges on the implants, which are permanently fixed in the mouth, giving patients full comfort of chewing and speech similar to that of patients with their own teeth. Such a solution costs tens of thousands of zlotys (link to the description next to implants).
Molar teeth, although they are not very visible perform a very important function in grinding food and maintaining the correct height of the compactness. Their absence can lead to lower chewing efficiency, the development of malocclusion, lowered short-circuiting and deterioration of facial features, overloading and consequent leaning or grinding of the front teeth, and even overloading of the temporomandibular joint structures, which can result in their pain. As a result of the loss of just one tooth, adjacent teeth begin to shift (leading to loss of contact points and food debris lodging between the teeth) or lean (often leading to lowered stagger and lateral displacement of the mandible).
Opposing teeth, on the other hand, lacking contact with the missing tooth, begin to slide out of the alveoli, seeking contact. This phenomenon, known as the “Godon effect,” leads to a disordered short-circuit, hinders subsequent prosthetic treatment, and in extreme cases ends up with the removal of teeth that have also protruded from the alveoli. Thus, a single deficiency can lead to the loss of more teeth and disrupt many functions of the masticatory organ.
The phenomena described here fortunately occur slowly so the patient has several months after tooth extraction to decide how to replace the missing tooth. In some cases, after the loss of a molar, the gap closes due to the displacement of adjacent teeth and the body adapts to the new conditions and there is no need for further treatment. It also happens that the existing gap is small and does not impede the patient's daily functioning. In that case, the doctor makes the decision to treat or not to treat it with the patient after a clinical examination. As a rule, however, lost teeth should be replaced.
When an implant treatment is not possible, we recommend patients consider other prosthetic methods of replacing missing teeth. However, the indication of a specific alternative depends on many factors, including the condition of the remaining teeth, bone and gums. The most common alternatives to implants are bridges. Depending on your budget, these can be all-porcelain bridges or those on a metal substructure.
Choosing the right prosthetic restoration for a particular patient depends on a number of factors:
- the number of tooth cavities
- the condition of the remaining teeth,
- The location of the cavity in relation to the remaining teeth,
- the condition of the bone and gums,
- the age of the patient,
- budget.
In order to determine the possibilities for your specific clinical case, you should schedule a consultation with a dentist. At our clinic, you are welcome to schedule a consultation with Dr. Piotr Jurkowski, a prosthodontic specialist, who will provide you with adequate possible solutions along with an estimate of the treatment.
