What are fixed prosthodontics and how will they help me?
Fixed prosthodontics are prosthetic or artificial devices, such as dental crowns, bridgework, and dental implants that replace missing teeth in your mouth. Fixed prosthodontics are not regularly removed and are used instead of removable dental devices, such as dentures. Replacing lost, damaged or severely decayed teeth may help restore your ability to eat and speak, improve your appearance, and benefit your general health and wellbeing.
This treatment will require a local anaesthetic about the anaesthetic and Discuss any concerns with your dental practitioner.
In most cases, fixed prosthodontic treatments are successful however, there is always some risk depending on the condition of the tooth, how well you care for your teeth and the surrounding gums, and the biting forces on the tooth.
Common risks and complications include:
- reduction of tooth structure: this may be necessary during the preparation of decayed or damaged teeth so crowns and/or bridges can be placed on the tooth/teeth
- speech: your speech may be altered temporarily until your tongue and lips adjust to the new fixed prosthodontic
- sensitivity: this may occur after the preparation of the tooth surface for a crown or bridge
- uncomfortable: fixed prosthodontics are artificial and therefore can feel uncomfortable or different from your natural teeth. This feeling should only be temporary
- breakage and/or chipping: porcelain, acrylic and metal components of the fixed prosthodontic can chip and even break. Biting hard materials, change in biting forces, traumatic blows to the mouth are possible causes of a break or chip
- teeth involved in the placement of a crown or bridge may require root canal treatment due to the nerve tissue becoming infected or inflamed
- dental decay and/or gum disease: it is important to maintain good oral hygiene (i.e. brushing and flossing) to include the fixed prosthodontics and surrounding teeth and gums to avoid decay and gum disease
- bleeding is more common if you have been taking blood thinning drugs or some complementary/ alternative medicines, such as fish oil and turmeric. Please discuss any medications you are currently taking with your dental practitioner at your initial appointment. Uncommon risks and complications include:
- failure of the fixed prosthodontic: this can occur due to poor oral hygiene, poor diet and failure to attend dental appointments
- loss of temporary restoration during fixed prosthodontic treatment: return to your treating dental practitioner
- severe or persistent pain: return to your treating dental practitioner
- infection requiring antibiotics and further treatment: return to your treating dental practitioner.
There may be consequences if you choose not to have the proposed treatment. Leaving the gap as is may cause drifting / tilting of adjacent teeth next to gap or opposing teeth may supra erupt in to gap. Difficulty in chewing or giving excess load on remaining teeth or with out knowing using other side as jaw favourable chewing side . Please discuss these with your dental practitioner.
Please ask your dental practitioner if you do not understand any aspect of the information in this patient information sheet or any other information you have been given about your condition, treatment options and proposed treatment and estimate cost & number of appointments needed .