How do traditional dentures stay in place?
Traditional dentures use suction and adhesives to attach to your gums. Partial dentures attach to the remaining teeth with metal or tooth-colored clasps.
What Is Prosthodontics?
Prosthodontics is the field of dentistry that focuses on the creation of artificial teeth. When the natural teeth can’t be saved, dental prosthetics can replace them to restore the look and function of your smile.
Benefits of Prosthodontics
Prosthodontics offers many benefits:
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- Restored dental function. Prosthodontics can replace your natural teeth with fully functional artificial teeth. From single tooth to full mouth replacement, your ability to chew and your natural speech can be restored.
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- Natural appearance. Advancements in technology have made dental prosthetics more natural looking than ever before. Your smile can be restored or look even better than it did before.
- Improved oral health. Replacing lost or decayed teeth with prosthetics improves your oral health by preserving the bone structure of your jaw and preventing decay from spreading to your other teeth and mouth tissues.
Why Choose Meadows Dental Associates of Sarasota
Our dentists are highly qualified in the field of prosthodontics, providing the most natural look and function possible in artificial teeth. We understand that losing your teeth can be difficult. For some people it is out of their control due to cancer treatment and other medical conditions that result in loss of teeth. Our goal is to restore your smile so that you can feel confident and eat the foods you love without hesitation. Tell us your goals for your smile and we will do our best to help you achieve them.
Services Offered
We provide the following prosthodontic services:
- Crowns. A dental crown is a tooth-shaped cover that is placed over an existing tooth that is severely decayed or damaged. The tooth is reduced in size to make room for the crown to fit over the top.
- Bridges. A dental bridge can replace one or two teeth in a row using the healthy teeth for support. Each end of the bridge consists of a crown that fits over the existing tooth with artificial teeth (pontics) connected between them. The pontics sit on top of the gums for a natural look.
- Dental implants. Dental implants are the highest quality tooth replacement option. A dental implant consists of a titanium post shaped like a screw that is surgically placed in the jaw. It fuses with the bone to form a solid bond. A dental crown can be connected to the implant to replace a single tooth.
- Dentures. Partial dentures can replace multiple teeth by connecting to the remaining teeth. Full dentures can replace all of the teeth in your mouth. Implant supported dentures connect to 4-6 dental implants placed in the jaw.
- Full mouth reconstruction. When the majority or all of the teeth in your jaw need to be replaced, a full mouth reconstruction may consist of any of the above prosthetics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prosthodontics
Are implant supported dentures fixed or removable?
Implant supported dentures are held in place securely by dental implants placed in the jaw. Dentures can snap onto the implants or be permanently attached.
What are dental prosthetics made of?
The most common material used for dental prosthetics is porcelain because it closely resembles natural tooth enamel. The porcelain may be attached to metal in some cases for strength, but the metal is not visible.
How many teeth can a bridge replace?
A traditional bridge can replace one or two teeth in a row using the healthy teeth on each side of the gap for support. An implant supported bridge can replace more teeth because each end of the bridge is attached to a dental implant.
Which is better to replace a single tooth, a bridge or a dental implant?
Dental implants are considered to be the highest quality tooth replacement option. They look and function better than a bridge and won’t damage the neighboring teeth. And dental implants can last a lifetime, whereas a bridge may last 10-15 years.
Am I a candidate for dental implants?
In order to be eligible for one or more dental implants, there must be sufficient bone structure in your jaw to support an implant. The jaw bone will weaken and deteriorate in the absence of a tooth, meaning you may not be ready for a dental implant if a tooth has been missing for a while. Bone grafting can restore lost bone tissue in preparation for a dental implant.
How do I clean my dental prosthetics?
How you clean them depends on the type of prosthesis you have. Some are removable for cleaning and others need to be cleaned while they are still in your mouth. Special brushes and tools are available for cleaning under and around dental prosthetics.
Is prosthodontics covered by insurance?
In many cases dental prosthetics are covered by dental insurance, but in some cases they may not. We recommend choosing the best tooth replacement option for you regardless of your insurance coverage. Financing options are available to make the cost more affordable.