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Replacement of missing teeth.
Replacement of missing teeth due to extraction, congenitally missing teeth, unerupted teeth or due to any other cause is very necessary :

There are several methods by which a lost tooth can be replaced :

  1. Removable Partial Denture -- RPD
  2. Fixed Partial Denture -- FPD (commonly known as Bridges)
  3. Dental Implant
  4. Full Dentures if all teeth are lost.

Removable Partial Dentures {RPD}:
     The artificial teeth are placed on a castmetal or acrylic framework and inserted into the patients mouth after making an impression. The denture(s) can be removed and replaced in the mouth by the patients themselves. The denture(s) has to be removed and cleaned after every meal and preferably kept out of the mouth at night. The denture(s) becomes ill-fitting over a period of time and needs replacement.

Fixed Partial Denture {FPD}:
     For this the teeth adjacent to the edentulous area (area where the tooth is lost) are prepared to receive a crown. These teeth are called abutments. These abutments are connected like a bridge, resembling the shape of the teeth. The bridge is fixed onto the abutments with the help of Dental Cements. Hence to replace a single tooth a three unit bridge has to be placed. A cantilever bridge may be used if there are teeth on only one side of the edentulous area. This involves anchoring the pontic to one side, over one or more natural adjacent teeth.
FPD can be fabricated from castmetal or Porcelain. Porcelain is more aesthetic than castmetal, for it has the colour and translucency of the natural tooth.

Dental Implant :
What is a Dental Implant?
         Dental Implant is the latest innovation in replacing the missing teeth with the help of Titanium screws or cylinders imbedded (implanted) into the jaw bone. Titanium in its commercially pure form is the most tissue friendly (biologically compatible) metal known to man. It integrates with the bone harmoniously. A portion of the Titanium screw projects out of the gums after the implant has been placed. This portion is used as an abutment onto which a Porcelain crown is cemented or screwed. Dental implants are artificial substitutes for natural tooth roots. Two or more implants can be used to bridge a long edentulous area. A Full Denture can also be fixed by using multiple implants in the upper and lower jaws.

Dental  implant      Dental Implant     Dental Implant

What are the advantages of an Implant?

What are the preconditions (contraindication) for Implant?

What are the clinical procedures for Dental Implant?

Dental Implant    Dental Implant    Dental Implant

          The positioning of the implant in the jaw bone is a minor surgical procedure that can be done under local anesthesia in a dental clinic. A small incision is placed over the gums in the edentulous area and the titanium implant is placed into the bone and the soft tissues are sutured. It takes about 3 to 6 months for the implant to get imbedded (osseointegrated) into the bone. After complete osseointegration of the implant to the bone a porcelain crown or bridge is placed over the abutments. A over denture maybe given for the period of 3 to 6 months as a temporary prosthesis, till the osseointegration (fixation) of the implant into the bone has been completed.
Dental Implant                 Dental Implant

What care should be taken after implant fixation?
          For long term success and uncomplicated extended lifespan of the implant, proper oral hygiene is very essential. Bacterial plaque is a threat to the implant as it is to natural teeth. Proper brushing with regular toothbrush, proxibrushes, dental floss, etc is a must after implant fixation. Extra care and time should be given for maintenance of  the cleanliness (hygiene) of the mouth. Any lack of care in the implant area will lead to inflammation of the gums and the loss of surrounding bone with consequent loss of attachment of the implant to the bone, ultimately resulting in treatment failure.

Conclusion:
    Implants are currently the most advanced and the latest tooth replacing technique. This is a highly accepted world wide technique. Dental implants are catching up very fast all over the world and are going to be the method of choice of tooth replacement in no time. When properly looked after implants currently offer the most attractive and permanent solution for tooth replacement. Occasionally dental implants do fail, as some people say they are rejected. In many instances they can be replaced with another implant, usually of a slightly larger size, or a Fixed Partial Denture can be made after the removal of the implant. Failure rate is about 1-2%.

* Know your teeth * Know your Gums (Gingiva) * Eruption Dates * Six Golden Rules * Brushing\Flossing Technique * Wisdom tooth * Tooth Decay * Extraction * Dental Implant * Surgical Extraction * Orthognathic Surgery * Asymmetry of the face * Gummy Smile * Prognathism{Long Jaw} * Beggs\Straight wire{Orthodontia} * Bleaching{Tooth Whitening} * Habit Breaking * Interceptive Orthodontics * Discolouration\Veneers * Composite\Amalgam Fillings * Root Canal Treatment{RCT} * Crown{Porcelain\Castmetal} * Flap Surgery/Splinting * Bridges{Porcelain\Castmetal} * TMJ (Joint) Disorders * Bell's Palsy {Facial Paralysis} * Ankylosis{Difficulty in mouth opening} * Cleft Lip and Palate * Trigeminal Neuralgia * In a Lighter vein


This site is produced, designed and maintained by
Dr Antony George, Trichur Institute of Head And Neck Surgery (TIHANS),
Shornur Road,Trichur,Kerala-680001,India.
Ph: 0091-0487-335145, 335185
email me
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copyright ŠAug 2000. No part of this website may be transmitted or reproduced in anyway. Every effort has been made to supply correct and accurate information, but I assume no responsibility for its use.

updated Aug2002.