A branch of dentistry devoted to the construction of artificial appliances that replace missing teeth or restore parts of the face.

What is a crown?
When a tooth exhibits moderate to severe destruction such as a large filling with recurrent decay or extensive wear, a crown, also known as a cap, gives you the strength, beauty, translucency and feel of a natural tooth. Made from a variety of materials, your prosthodontist can help determine the correct crown for your mouth.

What are veneers?

Veneers may be an option is you are not happy with the alignment, color or shape of your teeth. Following a slight preparation of the enamel, a prosthodontist bonds a thin layer of porcelain permanently to the front of your teeth.
Veneers may be used to correct minor flaws of individual teeth, but often are used on multiple teeth to create a uniform smile.

Inlay – Covers a portion of the occlusal and proximal surface.
Onlay-Covers the proximal surfaces and most or all of the occlusal surface.

What types of dentures are there?

Dentures may replace all the teeth or only some of the teeth. The dentures that replace all the teeth are known as complete dentures and they rest on the gums that cover the jawbones. The stability and retention of these dentures can be improved by attaching them to dental implants. Dentures that replace some but not all of the teeth are known as partial dentures. They attach to the teeth that are still present and also cover and rest on the gums and bone where the teeth are missing.

Prosthodontic constructions on implants

Crowns and conventional bridges or dentures may not be your only options when replacing missing teeth. For some people, dental implants offer a smile that looks and feels very natural. Surgically placed below the gums over a series of appointments, implants fuse to the jawbone and serve as a base for individual replacement teeth, bridges or a denture.
Implants offer stability because they fuse to your bone. Integration of the implants into your jaw also helps your replacement teeth feel more natural. Some people also find the secure fit more comfortable than conventional substitutes.

Candidates for dental implants need to have healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant. A thorough evaluation by your prosthodontist will help determine whether you are a good candidate for dental implants.

We offer “immediate load” dental implants, which means that we will work closely with your surgeon to provide a provisional (or temporary) prosthesis that can be directly attached to the implants within 24 hours of implant surgery, in ideal cases. This allows you to leave the office with a “fixed” replacement of teeth, instead of a provisional (temporary) replacement that is removable, such as a provisional (or temporary) partial denture/complete denture.

Missing teeth – Solution

Dental implants are the most realistic tooth replacements available. Implants begin with a surgically placed post that is securely anchored into the jawbone. The bone surrounding the anchor will heal in approximately three to six months. With a completely solid and stable anchor point, an artificial tooth is then installed.

The end result is a new artificial tooth that is virtually indistinguishable from a natural tooth, both from an aesthetic and functional standpoint.
In cases where several teeth are missing, dental implants can also act as the teeth to which bridges are fixed, again perfectly mimicking the function of healthy, natural teeth.

Alternatives

Complete dentures may be an alternative, however it depends upon your anatomical limitations.
Implant Dentures
Problem
Ill fitting, loose dentures. While dentures that are loose and ill fitting make eating difficult, they can cause painful sore spots on the gums as they slide around while chewing.

Solution

An implant denture may be the answer. Usually two to four implants are surgically placed in the bone and become anchored as the bone heals and secures itself to the implant. This healing process takes about three to six months after which the prosthodontist can begin constructing an implant denture. An implant denture is a removable denture with attachments on the underside that clip onto a bar connected to the implants. The attachments and bar hold the denture in place and keep it from moving when chewing and speaking.

Implant dentures can be classified into two groups: Implant Retained Dentures and Implant Supported Dentures. Implant Retained Dentures are held in place by the attachments, but are mainly supported by the bone and gum tissue as is a conventional denture. Implant Supported Dentures are for patients who do not have sufficient bone and supporting gum tissue. This denture is mainly supported by the bar attached to the implants.

Alternatives

Complete dentures may be an alternative, however it depends upon your anatomical limitations.
What are the different types of dentures?
For people who have lost teeth due to accidents or periodontal disease, dentures offer a way to rebuild their smile. Dentures serve as a replacement for missing teeth. When all of the teeth are missing, a complete denture is used. If some of the natural teeth remain, a partial denture is used. These are the main types of dentures, though there are many variations.

Complete Dentures:

Full-Denture-Upper-LowerComplete dentures, also known as a complete plate or full dentures, come in two forms. The first, known as conventional, are placed about three to four months after any remaining natural teeth are removed. The second option is immediate dentures, which are made in advance and placed in the mouth immediately after any natural teeth have been removed. The downside of the immediate approach is that bones and gums shrink after tooth removal, so immediate dentures require more adjustments during the healing process. In some cases, immediate dentures are used only as a temporary solution until the conventional dentures are ready.

Partial Dentures:

Partial dentures are a removable set of replacement teeth, usually attached to a plastic base colored to match the gums. This is connected to metal framework which holds the denture in the mouth. Partial dentures are less dependent on suction to keep them in place; instead, they are attached with special clips.

Partial dentures work in a similar manner to a dental bridge. Like a bridge, a partial denture replaces one or more missing teeth. A partial denture is usually removable, unlike a bridge, which is cemented to crowns on the surrounding teeth. Partial dentures are usually used when some natural teeth remain but their condition, number, or distribution in the mouth do not make it possible to secure a bridge.

OverDenture:

over-denture-lowerOne type of dentures is known as an overdenture. With overdentures, the natural root of the tooth is preserved, in order to delay the bone loss that occurs after an entire tooth is removed. A metal attachment is placed on top of the root, and the overdenture snaps onto this attachment. Many people report that overdentures feel more like real teeth because the natural roots result in increased sensation.

While most dentures are held in place using suction, adhesive, or metal attachments to the natural teeth, one category of dentures is attached to dental implants. Dental implants consist of titanium screws inserted into the jawbone. Most often, these metal screws are used to replace a single tooth. However, they may also be used to anchor a full or partial set of dentures in place.

Dentures also vary in the materials used. The false teeth in dentures are typically made of plastic, porcelain, or metal, while the base is acrylic or plastic.
With so many options available, it can be difficult to know which type of dentures are right for you. Your dentist will help you determine which type of dentures makes the most sense for your situation. What type of denture is right for you depends on your goals and the condition of your gums and any remaining natural teeth, among other factors.