Introduction
If there is a loss of a lot of hard tooth substance, i.e. enamel and dentin, or even the loss of one or more teeth, dental prosthetics, i.e. dentures, come into play. The aim is to restore the condition before the loss, or to find suitable dentures to restore the main functions of the teeth – chewing, sound formation, as well as aesthetics. The spectrum of prosthetic treatment ranges from a so-called inlay, which is similar to a filling, to a total denture, which replaces the complete set of teeth.
Difference between fixed and removable dentures
In prosthetics, a fundamental distinction is made between fixed and removable dentures. Fixed dentures are placed in the mouth in such a way that the person concerned cannot remove them from the mouth himself. It is cemented or glued, for example.
In contrast, removable dentures, as the name suggests, can be taken out of the mouth by the patient himself. The dentures are held in place by various retaining elements such as clasps or, in the best case, they suck themselves into the palate or the jaw ridge of the lower jaw through saliva. Removable dentures include Fixed dentures include the following: Combinations are also possible.
For example, fixed – removable dentures are dentures anchored by double crowns. In this case, the remaining teeth are firmly crowned, but the actual denture can still be removed.
- Clamp MEG
- Total prosthesis
- Veneer
- Inlay
- Partial crown
- Crown
- Bridge
- Implant
The Inlay
An inlay is a so-called inlay filling. If the tooth has been destroyed by caries, but there is still enough tooth structure left to guarantee sufficient statics, a filling can usually be placed. In the case of an inlay, the material that fills the hole is not placed in a deformable state, as is the case with composites (plastics), but a suitable “spare part” is made, which fits exactly into the created form. This is then glued or cemented into the hole. Gold and ceramic inlays are available.
