When patients are missing several or all of their teeth, removable prosthodontics may be a solution to restore the appearance and assist with chewing and/or speaking. The process involves a removable prosthetic device that replaces the missing teeth, commonly known as dentures. Removable prosthodontics devices can be removed by the wearer on a daily basis for cleaning and sleeping without any intervention from a dental professional, hence its name.
Removable prosthodontics involves careful and skilled molding and fabrication of each device to customize it for the wearer. Furthermore, depending on the types of dentures and the preference of the wearer, the way that removable prosthodontics are held in place may differ. Quality dentists or prosthodontists will make it their highest priority to ensure your dentures fit as comfortably as possible and provide the highest level of aesthetic and functional results.
Benefits of Fixed Prosthodontics
The greatest benefit of fixed prosthodontics is that they are permanent restorations, lasting 10-15 years and in some cases, even a lifetime with proper care. Since they are permanently attached to your mouth, taking good care of them is simple, generally only requiring standard oral health practices such as regular checkups and teeth cleaning, as well as twice-daily brushing and flossing. It is also a good idea to stay away from very hard or sticky foods for most fixed prosthodontic treatments.
While many fixed prosthodontic devices come in a variety of materials, the most popular porcelain variety has the benefit of the appearance of real teeth to provide a naturally beautiful smile for our patients!
Affordable Dentures for All Demographics
The greatest benefit of removable prosthodontics as a solution for missing teeth is that they are relatively cheap. Covered by many of the major insurance plans, finding a quality dentist to provide you with affordable dentures may be the most immediately economically viable solution for many patients.
Alternatives to Removable Prosthodontics
While dentures are the most affordable type of prosthodontics in the short run, there are other options for patients with missing teeth, namely dental bridges and dental implants. Below are some of the aspects to consider before making your final decision:
Long Term Cost: Dentures have the lowest upfront cost. While considered a permanent solution, they require continued adjustments and sometimes even refabrication as your jawbone will continue to shift over time. These adjustments and updates mean ongoing costs. In comparison, dental implants often last a lifetime without any need for adjustment, repairs, or replacement. In the long run, the total cost may be very similar or even higher for removable prosthodontics than for implant prosthodontics.
Aesthetics and Face Structure: Implant prosthodontics capped with dental crowns have the most natural look, followed by fixed prosthodontics (dental bridges), and finally removable prosthodontics. While dentures help prevent the shifting of any remaining teeth and jawbone deterioration associated with tooth loss to some degree, only the dental implant acts like a natural tooth root to keep the jawbone strong and in place. Since jawbone deterioration is highly associated with facial deformation, this can affect the aesthetics and face structure of the patient greatly.
Comfort and Functionality: Some patients have had great success with dentures for many years, while others have reported ongoing and even increasing discomfort. While implant prosthodontics is the most invasive of the tooth restoration procedures, and therefore brings the greatest initial discomfort and even pain, once healed and settled, they will feel and function almost exactly like natural healthy teeth.