What is Prosthetic Tooth and How is It Applied?

Having a prosthetic tooth does not mean that you will pay less attention to oral hygiene and care. On the contrary, visiting your dentist regularly will lengthen the lifespan of your prostheses and protect your oral health. All artificial formations that replace aesthetic disorders in the mouth or teeth loss caused by various reasons, satisfying the aesthetic and functional needs of people are called prostheses (dentures). In general, tooth loss can occur as a result of untreated gum diseases. In addition, tooth losses occur as a result of some accidents. For this reason, functionally and aesthetically similar prostheses should be made to replace the lost teeth.

What is the Purpose of the Dental Prosthesis?

Dental prostheses aim to restore the lost functions of the patient, correct the impaired speech and improve the aesthetic appearance. In this way, while the oral health, which is largely lost, is corrected; psychological support is provided for individuals who must live with missing or damaged teeth in the society, as individuals who must live their lives in this way (albeit for a while) forget first of all, to laugh.

This, in addition to functional disorders, causes a loss of self-confidence in people. By making prostheses, it is aimed to increase the quality of life of these patients.

Prosthetic Teeth Types

• Fixed Prosthetics (crown-bridge-like adhesive prostheses)
• Removable Dentures (total or partial dentures)
• Implant prostheses (fixed or mobile)

Fixed Prosthetics

• Single crowns (in the form of covering a single tooth)
• Bridges (covering the missing and surrounding teeth – the most applied)
• Implant prostheses (screws and prostheses placed in the jaw)

Removable Dentures

• Total Prostheses (Applied to mouths with no teeth. Used in advanced ages)
• Partial Prostheses (Applied to partially edentulous mouths. Hooks or nails on the teeth, called crochets, are used)
• Precision Attachment Prosthesis (To partially edentulous mouths, metal-supported prostheses without hooks)

Implant Prosthetics

• Fixed (porcelain crowns applied to one or more teeth)
• Removable (total-like prostheses applied to edentulous mouths)

Removable dentures are cleaned with a number of cleaning agents. Prostheses are cleaned with an effervescent tablet put in water. If the denture cleaning agent is not available, the denture can be cleaned with a toothbrush or denture brush. In addition, partial removable prostheses can be removed from the mouth and after the existing teeth in the mouth are cleaned, the prosthesis can be cleaned and replaced. However, in total prostheses, it is sufficient for the patient to remove the teeth and rinse his mouth.

Daily cleaning is important to prevent plaque, food residue, and tartar build-up, which can cause the following problems:

• Appearance and aesthetic problems,
• Bad breath
• Irritation of the tissue under the prosthesis
• Infection in the mouth.

• After meals, wash your prosthesis in water to remove food residue.
• You should brush your prosthesis regularly after certain meals, especially before bedtime. This process prevents plaque and stain formation.
• Water and various toothpastes or denture care products are used in the brushing process. Abrasive powders should not be used. Otherwise, the surface of the prosthesis is scratched, and the residues begin to accumulate and stain the surface.
• Special prosthetic brushes or regular toothbrushes can also be used.
• You should take care to clean all surfaces of the prosthesis.
• From time to time, you can keep your prosthesis in special prosthesis fluids. You should use your prosthesis exposed to chemicals after washing it.
• Stains and tartar embedded in the prosthesis can only be cleaned by a dentist with ultrasonic tools.
• The most effective way to keep the prosthesis clean is to keep it in chemical fluids several times a week with daily brushing.