Crowns, bridges and dentures fall under the category of Prosthetic Dentistry. As the name suggests, these treatment modalities are used to artificially replace those teeth and surrounding tissues that have been permanently lost. Using prosthetic options, we replace your lost teeth so that you may be able to bite, chew and speak comfortably and of course, smile confidently. These prostheses look similar to your natural teeth and hence cannot be identified as artificial by others when you smile.
A complete denture or a full denture is a prosthesis used when all teeth within a jaw have been lost and need to be prosthetically replaced. It is a removable prosthesis that rests on the remaining oral tissues and helps in restoring function. Complete dentures may be fabricated for either a single jaw or both the jaws via a completely non-invasive procedure. These dentures help in chewing, speech and improve the patients’ looks. Depending on the condition of the patient we may advise either immediate or conventional complete dentures.
A removable partial denture is a prosthesis used when one or more teeth within a jaw have been lost and need to be prosthetically replaced. It is a removable prosthesis that relies on the remaining oral soft tissues and the remaining teeth for its support. Removable partial dentures may be fabricated for either a single jaw or both the jaws via a completely non-invasive procedure. These dentures help in chewing, speech and improve the patients’ looks. They also prevent further deterioration of oral health by countering migration of the remaining teeth.
A crown is a fixed prosthesis given over a single tooth that may be damaged due to decay or
trauma. Depending on the
level of damage to the tooth, a root canal may or may not be required. In order to fabricate a
crown, first all the
decay and infection in the tooth has to be removed. The next step would be to prepare and shape
the tooth so that it can
seat the crown. The prepared tooth is called an abutment. It is measured by taking an impression
and a compatible crown
is then fabricated by the laboratory. This crown may be fabricated in metal, porcelain or a
combination of both. The
crown is then seated and cemented onto the abutment tooth.
A bridge is a fixed prosthesis given to replace one or more missing teeth. A bridge has two
components - pontics and
crowns. A pontic is the part of the bridge that replaces the missing tooth. A crown is the part
of the bridge that
supports the pontic by seating itself onto an abutment (prepared) tooth. Depending on the health
of the abutment tooth,
a root canal may or may not be required. In order to fabricate a crown, first all the decay and
infection in the tooth
has to be removed. The next step would be to prepare and shape the abutment teeth so that they
can seat the crowns. An
impression is taken for measurements and a compatible bridge is then fabricated by the
laboratory. This bridge may be
fabricated in metal, porcelain or a combination of both. The bridge is then seated and cemented
onto the prepared teeth.
Full mouth rehabilitation is a combination of multiple treatment modalities on multiple teeth that are used in conjunction with each other in order to correct minor malocclusions, restore decayed, broken or flattened teeth in order to achieve a set of teeth that provide not only a good bite, but also better speech and a beautiful looking smile. As a part of this treatment one may need to undergo a combination of extraction, root canal therapy, crown and bridge treatment, laminates, veneers, implants, periodontal surgery. Thus, each individual will have a different treatment plan, designed to suit his specific needs.
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