Fixed Prosthesis: Should You Get Permanent Dentures? (Hint: Yes!)

There was a time when losing all your teeth and adjusting to a set of Removable dentures was considered to be an inevitable part of old age. It was considered normal that the kind of food you can eat and enjoy will change, as will the appearance of your facial structures due to loss of bone support along with other changes that signify old age is upon you.

Luckily, those times are long gone.

Is Tooth Loss Age Dependent?

This was something that a lot of people believed in the scientific community and a large majority of the public still continue to believe it. The answer to the above question however, is an emphatic no. Long-term studies have conclusively proven that tooth loss is not age related, but  is age associated.

There is huge difference in those terms. To put it simply, even though there is nothing to suggest that just the process of ageing has anything to do with tooth loss, it is more likely for old people to have missing teeth since the cumulative effect of poor oral hygiene, habits and medical issues adds up to cause tooth loss.

Also, those people that have sought out dental treatment during their younger years by getting a root canal treatment or crowns and bridges begin to see these treatments runs their course and require further care. A lot of them at this point decide to get the teeth extracted rather then again go through the entire treatment cycle.

What Different Kinds Of Fixed Prosthesis Are Available To Patients?

There is quite literally no limit to what can be done for completely edentulous patients now. Thanks to the mainstreaming of Implant procedures all over the world, it has never been easier to rehabilitate a completely edentulous patient.

Some common options available are fixed implant supported dentures. If the patient can afford the required number of implants then a completely fixed prosthesis can be given to the patient. Such prosthesis comes close to replicating the natural dentition in look, feel and function.

Six implants in each jaw are enough to support a fixed denture prosthesis.  Another kind of prosthesis, which is commonly given to patients, includes an implant supported denture. Here, the number of implants is reduced and the denture which sits on top is made in such a manner that it can be removed by the patient.

The third kind of implant supported denture is placed using a minimum of two implants in the mouth. This works similar to an overdenture, where the purpose of the implants is to only provide some added retention to the dentures.

See Also: Tooth extraction: Would You Be Able To Recognize Infection And Other Complications?

They are similar to regular dentures in some respects, in that the dentures wobble and move during function; however the added retention improves the quality of life greatly as compared to conventional dentures.

The Success, Longevity And Affordability Of Fixed Dentures

What Is The Success And Longevity Of These Fixed Dentures?

There are two ways to evaluate the success of a fixed denture. One is by the number of years it stays in the mouth and the other is according to efficiency it functions with while it stays inside the mouth. Here are some statistics that will help you make up your mind. According to the latest information available, the latest peer reviews in leading scientific journals and long term follow up data, the rate of success of dental implants is put close to 98 percent. This is defined as a dental implant which has stayed in the oral cavity and functioned properly for at least 10 years.

Like your own teeth, implants have to be taken care of with good oral hygiene and a regular visit to the dentist. If they are not taken care of then it is likely that they too will fail.

Are These Fixed Prostheses Within Reach Of The Average Patient?

As it turns out, money does NOT grow on trees and so most of us are not multi-millionaires. It is important that the treatment isn't prohibitively expensive. With dental implants, the cost of production has come down drastically over the last few years.

This benefits the patients directly as the cost of getting dental implants done has come down by more than half over the last decade or so. Doctors have at their disposal a greater number of implant systems some of which are more affordable than the others. These are offered to the patient as reliable alternatives with few drawbacks.

The average lifespan of people all over the world is increasing. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the improvement in eating habits and oral hygiene. This has meant that a greater population than ever before is looking for better alternatives than Removable dentures to help improve their quality of life.

The end result of all of these developments when taken together means that no other generation has had easier and more affordable access to dental implants than the current one. This trend is all set to continue.

See Also: Oral Hygiene: Dental Care Mistakes You Could Be Making

Conclusion

It is difficult for people with teeth to imagine the difficulties faced by someone who has no teeth. The experiences of those who have used conventional dentures and then moves to fixed dentures down the line have been nothing but positive. It is just the gap in information that needs to be filled letting people know that better alternatives exist and are easily available.