Denturology has developed various techniques to ensure comfort, performance and aesthetics with all types of dental prostheses or dentures. She did the same with dentures on implants, creating many ways to fix dentures to the mouth. Thus, it is now possible to obtain fixed prostheses on dental implants or removable dental prostheses also on implants.
The choice of fasteners for dental implants may depend on several elements, including the number of teeth to replace or the condition of the mouth of the person. Sometimes, these are professional choices made by the dentist as well as the denturologist. In general, the patient can specify what suits him/her in the possible choices by specifying his / her expectations, tastes and budget.
This article presents 3 types of fasteners, with their characteristics, depending on whether the patient chooses dentures fixed on dental implants or removable dental prostheses.
1- Dental prostheses on implants with a bar
With this technique, the dental prosthesis is retained by a bar. And the attachment bar is designed to support a complete prosthesis. It can, therefore, replace all teeth, whether those of the upper jaw (the maxilla) or the lower jaw (the mandible).
The bars are themselves attached to the dental implants that were first attached to the patient’s jawbone. Recall that implants are artificial tooth roots that act as the roots of natural teeth, that is to say, they are used to support the teeth. Dental implants are usually made of titanium, which ensures their durability.
Titanium bar with a rider
This bar is used especially for the lower jaw. It remains the best solution when there is little space in the mouth.
Titanium bar with attachment
This type of bar is also used for the lower jaw. The fasteners are press button type with nylon.
Zircon bar with attachment
It acts like the titanium bar presented above, but rather than containing metal. It is made of zircon, a mineral.
Bar of Paris
This bar also considered fixed, has a peculiarity that others do not have. It allows the patient to keep it at all times, but to remove it to facilitate and improve the cleaning of dentures.
2- Dental prostheses on implants with attachments on the gum
For this type of anchoring, there is no use of a bar. Dental prostheses are fixed with fasteners directly on the implant that is placed in the gum. These fasteners can be used for both jaws.
Attachments used can be of 2 types, locator or ball. Locator fasteners have the particularity of taking up little space in the mouth. They have a male part and a female part, ensuring excellent support. As for the ball clips, they have the same characteristics but have a round shape.
3- Dental prosthesis on fixed implants with a bar
Fixed dental prostheses with bar can be used for 2 jaws, mandible and maxillary. When one chooses this type of fixation, there is no attachment. Prostheses are screwed directly onto dental implants.
On the other hand, it requires some implants to ensure all the necessary stability. We then speak about 6 to 10 implants for the upper jaw and 4 to 5 for the lower one.
Since dental prostheses are screwed onto implants, this structure provides the patient with fixed prostheses on dental implants. It is not possible for him to withdraw them.
