Dentalnews (en)

What does “dentures-supported by bones or mucous membrane” mean?

Depending on whether the masticatory force is initiated by bones (just like with your own teeth) or by mucous membrane. You differentiate from denture “supported by bones or mucous membrane”

It is called dentures- supported by bones, if  the masticatory force is located in the bones and the denture is hardly seated on the mucous membrane.

If  the masticatory force is primarily located in the mucous membrane and help remained teeth and/or implants (so called fixation elements) it is called dentures-supported by mucous membrane.

Often no fixation elements are used-  total denture. If fixation elements are used you call it a hybrid prosthesis. Better fixation can be improved through two implants. (pic. 1)You don´t need synthetic gums, but the masticatory force is not supported by these implants-so you see a mucous membrane supported denture placed on implants in this picture.

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A denture-supported by bones is trend setting in industrial countries. The reasons are:

• better comfort for the patient
• prevention of damages on fixation teeth (partial dentures-a classical example of a mucous membrane supported denture-is fixed on remained teeth)
• prevention of bone loss from the alveolar bone (Use it-or lose it)

Often a bone is not loaded naturally through a denture supported by mucous membrane (non physiological). The result is not only a bad fitting prosthesis, but also face changes (big lower jaw, small upper jaw). You can recognize bone loss because of recurrent pressure sores and/or a prosthesis, which is not fitting well anymore. The result is a denture lining-which compensate a bone loss.

Even if there are less bones left, a bone set up surgery can be made to use implants. Partial dentures and total dentures are implanted provisionally till the implants are healed.

Advantages of partial,- and total dentures opposite to implants are lower costs.

Popularity: 6% [?]

Fixed means that you are not able to remove the dentures out of the mouth. The denture is in the mouth constantly. This is not a dental plate, but a denture.

A classic example is a dental crown (pic.1). The quality of dental crowns, a correct bite and the dental arch incorporation have to fit all the time! Differences in costs refer to the effort and the aesthetic elaboration.

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Another example of a fixed denture is the dental bridge (pic.2) Like the dental crown it is also carbonised on tooth stumps. The only difference is, that a dental bridge connects one or more interlinks together.  Separate crowns are often linked together-without interlinks. This is done to save work, cause the technician has to mold less sides on the denture and so the dentist has to pay less for the work.  But this causes disadvantages for you!

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If there is no tooth stump left you need an implant instead (pic.3). A denture with implants is mostly carbonised- but with a temporary dental cement-this is called a “partly removable denture.”

If the dentist is able to remove the denture, for example by loosen screws, it is called partly removable denture-so the dentist is able to remove your denture “easily” but you are not.

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A classic example of a partly removable denture is a screwed bridge solution (pic.4)

As said before: Implant crowns are carbonised contrary to normal crowns, so the denture can be removed by the dentist as needed.  You call it a fixed denture if the crown is placed on the tooth stump, cause the dentist has to destroy the crown to get to the tooth.

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The use of screwed dentures was not unusual in the past, today carbonised solutions are  trend setting.

Some reasons are:

• Development and improvement of dental cement (permanent and temporary cement)
• lower costs in contrast to expensive screwed solutions
• easier to clean
• less problems
• higher comfort, cause screwed dentures are usually bigger and clumsy
• positive development in the region implantology and bone structure surgery

If you have a fixed or partly removable denture the masticatory force is initiated by bones either on the dental root or with implants. This is also possible with removable dentures-the masticatory force can also be initiated by the mucous membrane. You differentiate from denture, supported by bones or mucous membrane. More on this in the next article.

Popularity: 4% [?]