Fixed/removable prosthetics
Fixed/removable prosthetic restorations form a part of prosthodontics. Unlike with full dentures, fixed/removable restorations always involve natural teeth and/or implants. As opposed to purely removable dentures (which include full dentures and partials retained on natural teeth with clasps), fixed/removable dentures consist of two sections, i.e. one fixed and one removable section.
Fixed/removable denture including CoCr, clasps, precision attachment and double crowns (demo model)
Fixed telescopic crowns (primary)
The patient-removable section with its retainers and connectors (e.g. clasps, precision attachments, telescopic crowns, press-stud systems, magnets etc.) is anchored on the periodontally-borne, fixed section of the restoration usually consisting of single crowns or bridge abutments supported on natural teeth, implants or implant abutments.
Removable partial denture (secondary section)
Removable lower partial denture
A removable bridge (usually "telescopic" and borne on telescopic crowns) replaces teeth with bridge units and almost never requires mucosal coverage.
Other types of fixed/removable prostheses always include sections which are supported by and exert pressure on the mucosa. A coverdenture fully covers all connectors and includes teeth corresponding to those of a full denture. That section of a fixed/removable prosthesis covering the hard upper palate is referred to as the palate and sections on edentulous areas of alveolar ridge are called saddles. In fixed/removable prostheses with multiple saddles they are often connected via a metal base – in the maxilla using a major connector (transverse) and via a lingual bar in the lower. Fixed/removable prostheses may also be totally metal-free. Missing teeth are usually replaced with prefabricated acrylic denture teeth and less frequently with prefabricated porcelain teeth.
When fabricating fixed/removable prostheses, special impression material and techniques are employed in an attempt to ensure that the denture base rests uniformly on the jaw. Exceeding the resilience of the mucosa or repeated "scrubbing" movements of the fixed/removable prosthesis may quickly result in pressure spots. After months or years, the bony denture base undergoes varying degrees of physiological and pressure-induced atrophy. The denture base can be relined to restore congruency.
Unlike purely fixed prosthetic restorations, fixed/removable prostheses can be cleaned and repaired extraorally. In addition, examining the residual dentition and maintaining its hygiene is easier. In case of loss of load-bearing abutments, fixed/removable restorations can often be extended without needing remaking.
Placing implants to increase the number of abutments supporting fixed/removable prostheses results in firmer, more stable retention and relieves the loading on the residual natural dentition.
Fixed/removable prostheses replacing not only missing teeth, but also other anatomical structures are referred to as maxillofacial appliances.
Tooth/implant-borne bridges are normally not considered to be fixed/removable restorations but rather purely fixed prostheses (possibly operator-removable) supported on natural teeth and implants.
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Wax build-up technique Wax build-up technique The various anatomical structures (such as cusp tips and slopes as well as marginal ridges) are usually built up one after another by adding small portions of wax (often using differently coloured waxes for didactic purposes). The firm, special waxes first have to be melted at room temperature. This can be carried out by warming small portions on differently shaped working tips of hand instruments in an open flame (such as a gas burner) or using electrically heated instruments which provide for more accurate temperature control and avoid contamination (e.g. electric wax-knife, induction heaters, wax dipping units). The wax is applied drop-by-drop to ensure that the warmer molten wax added last fuses seamlessly with the firm, cooler material. After hardening, the wax pattern can be reduced by sculpting, milling guidance surfaces or drilling to add retainers. Modern procedures include flexible, occlusal preforms for adding contours to soft wax. In addition, wax preforms, such as for occlusal surfaces or bridge pontics, are available in various shapes and sizes. Recently, irreversible, light-curing materials have been introduced for use instead of reversible thermoplastic waxes. Wax preforms To ensure that the wax pattern can be released without being damaged, model surfaces, opposing dentition and preparations must be hardened/sealed with special lacquer (applied by spraying, brushing or dipping). These waxes are mostly relatively rigid/elastic after cooling. Attaching wax sprues to a removable framework supported on double crowns using a hand instrument When employing the lost wax technique, prefabricated wax sprues, bars and reservoirs are attached to the patterns. Once the pattern has been released and its sprues waxed onto the crucible former, it is invested in a casting ring with refractory investment material. The wax can then be burnt out residue-free and casting completed. Unlike standard wax build-up techniques, a diagnostic wax-up is not intended for fabricating an indirect restoration, but rather for simulating the appearance and/or external contouring for producing orientation templates. |