Why Should I Get a Prosthesis?
Over the years, due to eating, chewing, swallowing, and nighttime teeth grinding for various reasons, teeth wear down to varying degrees. Additionally, cavities and accidents can cause parts of the teeth to fracture or be lost. The loss of a single tooth can harm your health in many ways. The teeth next to the missing one tend to tilt toward the gap. The opposing tooth also extends into the extraction space, as teeth tend to seek contact. These elongations and tilts disrupt the alignment and contact between the teeth, which increases the accumulation of food debris and bacterial plaque. These areas are difficult to clean, increasing the risk of tooth decay and gum disease. All of these issues can be prevented by replacing the lost tooth structure.
Crowns, which are a type of prosthesis, are used to reconstruct the lost parts of teeth. These crowns are made using porcelain, acrylic, or specially produced metal alloys for dentistry. Recent developments in dentistry have made it possible for these structures to look extremely natural. Broken, discolored, or misshapen teeth can have a very negative effect on a person’s appearance. People who suffer psychologically because of this can be helped through various types of prosthetic treatments.
The prostheses made to replace lost teeth are generally of two types:
Fixed Prostheses
These include crowns and bridges that are made over existing teeth and cannot be removed by the patient.
Removable Prostheses
These are prostheses that can be inserted and removed by the patient whenever desired.
(For more detailed information, you can refer to the Prosthetic Treatment section under our Services module.)
How Should Prostheses Be Cleaned?
The care of fixed prostheses, that is, crowns, should be the same as the care of natural, healthy teeth. A well-made crown should be no different from a healthy tooth in terms of function and ease of cleaning. In addition to routine oral hygiene practices, the underside of the part placed in the gap should be cleaned using a special bridge floss in the manner recommended by your dentist.
Removable prostheses should be taken out and brushed after every meal. Once a day, they should be cleaned with special cleansing agents. Since some materials may damage metal-containing prostheses, no cleaning product should be used without consulting a dentist. When not in use, the prosthesis should be kept in clean water to prevent drying and deterioration. Removable prostheses should be checked every three years and replaced if necessary. Over time, they may wear out, break, or lose their fit with the jaw, which can damage the jawbone.