When the elderly lose their teeth, the gap must be filled. Not only for aesthetic reasons, but also to be able to chew freely and… for the benefit of the remaining teeth. Learn methods of filling missing teeth.

Contents:

  1. Missing teeth in seniors - implants
  2. Missing teeth in seniors - partial removable dentures
  3. Missing teeth in seniors - complete dentures
  4. Missing teeth in seniors - how to care for the hygiene of new teeth

Lack of teeth in the elderlyis a common problem. Each cavity disturbs the balance in the dental arches. Adjacent and opposite teeth begin to move towards the gap and may become loose. The consequences are occlusal disorders and uneven load on the teeth, which may result in headaches and in the temporal and mandibular joints.

Loose teeth are more prone to periodontal disease, they are more easily damaged and may fall out. Finally, an incomplete bite, apart from speech impediments, results in inaccurate grinding of the food, which may cause digestive disorders. For he alth reasons, it is worth filling the gaps as soon as possible. Modern prosthetics creates many possibilities - from implants to removable and fixed dentures.

Missing teeth in seniors - implants

The lost tooth can be replaced by an implant, i.e. an artificial titanium or zirconium root implanted in the jaw bone, on which a crown is placed. The procedure of drilling the bone and inserting a screw-like implant into it is performed under local anesthesia and takes about half an hour.

After 2-6 months, when the artificial root fuses with the jaw, the prosthetist places a crown on it, matching the shape and color of the real teeth. The reconstructed tooth does not differ visually from the natural one, the root is solidly fused with the jaw, and the tooth “works” just like the natural one.

Thanks to this, the bones are not deprived of stimuli, so they do not disappear. With proper care of hygiene, implants can be used for the rest of their lives. What's more, not only single crowns can be placed on them, but also permanent dentures (prosthetic bridges and complete dentures) and removable (partial or full) dentures.

Missing teeth in seniors - partial removable dentures

In the case of cavities covering several teeth, it is possible to create a prosthesispartial - backbone

or circulation. In a skeletal denture, acrylic tooth crowns are placed on a thin but durable metal structure, equipped with clasps and thorns, which are used to fix the denture on the adjacent teeth (natural or implants).

The skeletal denture can also be fixed with the use of special latches (locks) - for this purpose, however, it is necessary to place the crowns on the adjacent teeth, because one part of the latch is in the denture and the other in the crown.

Another type of removable partial denture is an overdenture, which is used for the residual dentition, i.e. when most of the dental arch needs to be reconstructed. The denture rests on the patient's own tooth roots or on implants.

In the root canal (or on the implants) there are metal catches to which the prosthesis is attached. The advantage of skeletal and onlay prostheses is their stability and the fact that they allow the use of the patient's teeth and roots (or implants), which means that the forces generated during chewing are transferred to the jaw bones in a physiological manner, similar to natural dentition.

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Missing teeth in seniors - complete dentures

They are used in the case of toothlessness, that is, when the patient does not have a single tooth left in the maxilla or the mandible. The classic artificial jaw, i.e. based on the gums, the so-called A plastic denture (acrylic, nylon), which is a reconstruction of entire dental arches, is the most economical solution, but also the least advantageous in terms of user comfort.

Especially at the beginning, the feeling of a foreign body in the mouth is disturbing, there may be problems with biting, chewing and speaking clearly. The denture is not always stable, it can move around, rub the gums and the palate. You have to get used to it and wear it every day to make it settle down and stop disturbing you.

When eating, occlusal forces are transferred to the gum, not directly to the bone, which reduces the chewing force and accelerates the disappearance of the maxillary and mandibular alveolar processes. As a result, the prosthesis settles down and adjustments to fit it are necessary and the replacement of the prosthesis approx. Every 5 years.

A more modern and comfortable version of a full denture is a stabilized dentureimplants - movable or permanent. To install a removable denture in the mandible, you need to place at least two implants, and a removable denture in the maxilla - four. The prosthesis is attached to the implants with special connectors.

Complete dentures can also be fixed on implants permanently, but for this it is necessary to insert four implants in the maxilla and six in the mandible. The advantage of full dentures stabilized on implants is that the user can safely eat even hard foods. It is also important that the implants prevent bone loss by providing them with stimuli while chewing.

Missing teeth in seniors - how to care for the hygiene of new teeth

The great advantage of artificial teeth is that they will not be attacked by caries. This does not mean, however, that their owner is exempt from care for hygiene. Both the oral cavity and the prostheses and implants themselves must be carefully looked after. Particular care is required for dentures, because food remains between the dentures and the palate and gums can stick, and they are also an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. In addition, a plaque builds up on the denture, as well as on the teeth, creating conditions for the development of these pathogenic microorganisms.

If you have a removable denture

The goal of hygienic procedures is to prevent inflammation and fungal infections.

  • after each meal, thoroughly clean the denture with a brush, using a special antibacterial denture paste, and then rinse the denture under a stream of warm, but not hot, water. Brush all surfaces of the denture, especially those that come into contact with the mucosa. Do not use traditional toothpaste, because it contains abrasive substances that can scratch the surface of the denture, which causes a faster formation of a deposit on it, e.g. from coffee, tea
  • remove the denture at night, because the stretcher is open 24 hours a day - it is not conducive to the faster formation of bacterial raids on its surface. Store the cleaned and thoroughly dried denture in an airtight, dry box. Holding it in a glass of water promotes the growth of bacteria and fungi that easily penetrate, especially into acrylic dentures with a porous structure
  • disinfect the prosthesis in a solution with bactericidal and antiseptic properties once every two weeks. It is also necessary after each infection within the oral cavity (aphtha, herpes, sinusitis, angina); then denture cleaning brushes should be replaced to avoid re-infection
  • take care of oral hygiene. Clean your tongue once a day with a special brush, use mouthwashes or herbal infusionsantiseptic and soothing (chamomile, oak bark, sage). Massage your gums with a soft brush to stimulate blood circulation. Lubricate irritated gums with a gel with soothing and anti-inflammatory properties

When you have implants

Failure to take care of hygiene can lead to inflammation around the implant and, consequently, to the lowering of the gum line, bone loss and exposure of the implant surface, and even its loss. That is why you need to care for implants in the same way, and even more than for natural teeth.

  • twice a day, preferably after breakfast and dinner, thoroughly brush your teeth with a manual toothbrush or an electric toothbrush
  • floss the interdental spaces twice a day. The special structure of the implant crown, which goes deep under the gum, creates conditions for food debris and plaque formation - both can only be removed with a dental floss. Also, remember to clean the space under the spans of the bridges placed on the implants. Flossing can be supplemented with a dental irrigator, which allows you to rinse the interdental spaces
  • clean the tongue once a day with a special brush
  • rinse your mouth with mouthwash once a day, which not only disinfects and refreshes your breath but also prevents plaque build-up

Category:

Geriatrics