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.
