What are the different types of removable dental prostheses?
Déflex Flexible Prostheses
Deflex prostheses are made from materials with varying combinations of flexibility and rigidity.
They are known as flexible dental prostheses because the first materials used to make this type of prosthesis were very flexible at first, and that was a way to distinguish them from conventional materials. However, they are far from being soft or rubbery, and they do not deform easily, unlike other polymers on the market that are extremely flexible for clinical use.
Dental Skeletal Prosthesis
A skeletal dental prosthesis (or removable metal denture) consists of a metal base (to which the artificial teeth are attached) and an acrylic component that mimics the color and appearance of the gums.
The dental framework relies on the existing teeth and the oral mucosa to provide sufficient stability to ensure that the orthodontic appliance does not move. At the same time, it aims to ensure that the patient’s appearance is not unduly compromised by visible brackets that detract from its natural look.
Immediate Dental Prosthesis
Immediate dental prostheses allow for the immediate replacement of teeth that have been extracted on the same day, helping to improve chewing and speech and to maintain aesthetics during the gum healing period.
They are temporary, lasting just a few months, after which the permanent prosthesis is fitted. During this period, the bone where the extractions were performed heals; this process is aided by these temporary prostheses, which prevent the rapid loosening that would occur with permanent prostheses if they were fabricated immediately after the extractions.
