Removable dentures are employed to fill in or replace the areas of missing teeth in certain portions. They are usually attached to the gum coloured plastic bases/ natural gums. These structures are connected by using suitable metal framework.

Devices known as precision attachments are used to attach these dentures to the natural teeth. Compared to the conventional metal clasps, they are more aesthetic in appearance and are also relatively more comfortable. However, they are comparatively more expensive than those with metal clasps.

During the initial weeks of wearing removable dentures, they might seem to be bulky and uncomfortable. However, this feeling shall fade away in a matter of time. The removable nature of denture is also beneficial when the person feels highly irritated with the denture. The partial denture, however, must not be subject to excessive force.

The duration of wearing these dentures solely depends on the patient. It is advisable to put these dentures for the maximum duration in a day. If this is not done, these dentures may need to be put for more time period.

Another aspect of these dentures is the amount of moisture in them. It is very much necessary to keep these appliances moist. If this is not done, it might lead to the change in shape of these appliances.

Over time, adjustments in these dentures are essential. Step by step changes in these dentures is desirable as these can indicate improvement in the structure of tooth.

Removable dentures are very much useful provided they are kept regularly & managed properly!

Dental bridges are appliances that are used to remove the gap between two teeth. Bridges are generally opted under the situations when a gap is formed due to certain abnormalities. For the successful placement of a dental bridge, crowns should be placed in the both sides of the gap. These teeth that help in the anchoring of the bridge are known as abutment teeth. A pseudo/false tooth is placed in between these structures. This false tooth is referred to as pontics. It can be fabricated either using gold, porcelain, alloys etc.

Dental bridges are very much useful in many aspects. Some of the benefits of dental bridges are as follows:

• Bridges shall help in smile restoration.
• On implanting bridges, the patient can improve his/her ability to speak or chew in a more efficient manner.
• Dental bridges can help in preventing the other teeth from misalignment.
• The general shape of the face can be maintained.

There are different types of dental bridges. They are traditional bridges, Maryland bonded bridges, cantilever bridges etc.

• Cantilever bridges: These bridges can be applied when the missing tooth has atleast one natural tooth on either side.
• Traditional bridges: As mentioned before, dental crowns are placed in the neighboring teeth for anchoring purposes. A pontic is also kept in between, in the place of the missing tooth.
• Maryland bonded bridges: These bridges are also known as a Maryland bridge or resin bonded bridge. These bridges are made off gums of plastic teeth. A metal framework supports the teeth. Wings made of metal are placed and bonded on side of teeth.
• Procedure of getting a dental bridge: At first, the preparation of the abutment teeth is performed. In most cases, recontouring might be needed. After this process, the impressions of teeth are made. These impressions shall help in making bridges, crowns and pontic. A temporary bridge shall be made in the first setting and the patient shall be allowed to go home.

In a scheduled second setting, the temporary bridge is replaced by a permanent bridge. This bridge is appropriately adjusted so that the patient experiences only minimum discomfort. Perhaps, more than one visit might be needed to adjust the metal framework properly.

Dentures are devices that are inserted into the tooth in order to facilitate proper chewing. These can also help in other processes like gum protection, speech improvement. General improvement in the appearance can also be brought about through these dentures. They are mostly fitted into the place of missing teeth.

Dentures can be classified into various categories. They are broadly classified into fixed and removable dentures. These dentures are to be chosen based on the individual dental constitution & requirement by a dental professional. Dentures can also be complete or partial. Complete dentures are entire set of teeth that are used to replace either the whole of the upper or lower teeth portion. Partial dentures however replace only a certain set of teeth. Almost majority of the people prefer removable dentures over the fixed ones. This can be attributed to the fact that these devices can be removed at any time other than the time when these are needed the most. In cost also, the fixed dentures are relatively more expensive than the removable dentures.

Fixed dentures are also fitted either to the tooth root or the nearby teeth. They can also be employed to fill the gaps between the teeth. Commonly, fixed partial denture is known as 'crown & bridge' denture. The bridges, once fixed by the professional, cannot be removed by the patient. A large number of materials can be used to fabricate these dentures. Some of the materials employed for fabrication include gold, porcelain, or an alloy of both these materials. Among these, porcelain is the safest method to use.

Maintenance of fixed dentures is very much necessary. If maintained properly, these dentures can last for almost 8-10 years. Due to its fixed nature, there is high probability that food particles can get stuck into these devices. If these are not washed away properly, these can result in inappropriate reaction leading to damage of the surrounding tooth structure.

As the name indicates, dental crowns are caps that are fitted over the top as device for protecting the concerned teeth. These appliances play a significant role in restoring the size, strength and shape of the teeth. Improvement in appearance of teeth can also be brought about by using these dentures.

Dental crows are required in the following situations:

• For the protection of a weak tooth.
• For supporting & covering a tooth with a sufficiently large filling.
• For restoring a broken tooth.
• For holding the dental bridge in appropriate position.
• For improving the cosmetic appearance.

The list below provides some of the commonly used dental crowns:

• Stainless steel dental crown: They are temporarily used on permanent teeth. The permanent crown may be fabricated using a material other than stainless steel. These crowns are generally use for children. This is due to the fact that they can last for a long time, once they are put in place. They are also cost-effective.
• Porcelain fused metal dental crowns: These crowns are available in a suitable colour to match the nearby teeth colour. Due to this flexibility, these crowns resemble the natural teeth and are therefore difficult to distinguish. These crowns can be a suitable option for teeth in the front and back.
• Metal crowns: Metals like gold and metal alloys like those made from palladium, chromium, nickel etc can be used for fabricating crowns. The advantage of these crowns is that only less tooth structure needs to be removed in these crowns. In terms of wear & tear, metal crowns last longer in terms of withstanding the biting and chewing forces.
• All resin dental crown: These dental crowns are cost-effective compared to other crowns. This however comes in the cost of more wear & tears over time. These crowns are also more prone to damages like fractures.

Dental crowns, if not properly maintained can lead to many issues. Damages and deformities can develop these structures. The crown can become chipped, loose and even the crown can fall off. Tooth sensitivity can also happen. Hence, one can understand how much it is important to maintain the crowns.

BPS is the acronym of Biofunctional Prosthetic System. This category of dentures can help in a large way in contributing to the oral requirements in daily life. These dentures can facilitate the wearing of the prosthetic tooth continuously, all along the day. They are also convenient and easy to use.

The BPS system:

'Biofunctional': The biofunctional nature of these dentures is the high percentage of resemblance to the natural teeth & related actions. Bio-functional dentures can almost replicate the natural teeth functions, primarily the mastication process. The problems are also very much less in speaking by wearing these devices. Although these dentures come at relatively high cost, the advantages that these provide are well beyond the conventional dentures.

'Prosthetic System': The significant aspect of these dentures is their high quality. The nature of the materials needed for fabrication make it very much preferable to use over the other dentures.

BPS dentures can be of various types. These dentures can be partial dentures, combination dentures, over dentures, complete dentures, removable implant dentures etc.