Removable dental prosthesis: our complete guide

It is always advisable to keep your original teeth, if possible. However, if they are too damaged due to an infection, an accident or a periodontal disease, the use of prostheses is inevitable. There are many solutions depending on your personal situation.

We propose to make an overview on nutrident of dental prostheses, partial or total, fixed or removable.

When should a denture be worn?

As with any dental surgery procedure, the cost of a prosthesis is not insignificant. In addition to the aesthetic aspect, you must take into account the importance of having a complete and healthy set of teeth to be able to chew your food properly.

Otherwise, you are putting the strain on your digestive system, which does not always appreciate it, and you are exposing yourself to repercussions throughout your body.

Prosthesis is no longer synonymous with old age. With the evolution of the diet and the increased consumption of sugar in recent decades, the condition of the teeth of the younger generation has deteriorated dramatically.

The soda and fast-food generations multiply cavities from childhood and the first permanent teeth. If these infections are not treated in time, the tooth can no longer be saved and must be replaced by a prosthesis.

If you leave gaps in place of a pulled tooth, the other teeth will naturally move to fill that gap, making your jaw look crooked. On the other hand, if you are missing several teeth, you will compensate by changing the way you chew, which will unbalance your jaw and neck.

It is therefore essential not to let the situation deteriorate and to resort to prostheses. There are two types: fixed or removable.

Fixed prostheses

Fixed dentures are placed by the dentist to remain permanently in your mouth. They attach to the remaining teeth or are cemented into the jawbone.

The crown

The crown is the most common dental prosthesis. It is composed of ceramic, which reproduces the appearance of tooth enamel, and metal, in the case of a ceramic-metallic crown. Today, it is possible to produce metal-free crowns made entirely of ceramic.

When the crown contains metal, a gray line is visible under the gum. This is not a problem for the back teeth, but for the much more visible incisors and canines, it is better to choose the all-ceramic crown. It is more expensive and not reimbursed by the Social Security if it is on a molar, but allows a much more aesthetic result, because natural.

The crown is extremely robust and can last more than twenty years. Its cost is accessible and, if you have a good complementary health insurance, it is rather well reimbursed.

The installation of the crown

When the tooth is too damaged to be filled with an amalgam, the dentist devitalizes it and cuts it to accommodate the prosthesis, which is made from a mold. The crown is then glued.

Inlay core and onlay

The inlay, also called the post tooth, must be placed when the tooth is too damaged to hold a crown. The inlay core consists of a metal part, anchored in the root, which makes the joint between the original tooth and the upper part in composite or ceramic which will reconstitute the shape of the tooth.

The inlay allows the reconstruction of the interior of the tooth and the onlay the upper part, especially when a tooth has been broken.

The bridge

When a tooth has to be pulled, it is no longer possible to place a crown or an inlay, there is the bridge solution. The problem with this type of prosthesis is that it will rest on the two teeth that surround it and that will have to be devitalized and cut, which is very damaging if these teeth are in good condition. It is about forming a bridge.

The Maryland Bridge

Based on the same principle as the conventional bridge, the Maryland bridge rests on the teeth that frame the missing tooth, but instead of crowns, it rests on inlay-onlay. It is less damaging to the teeth, but less resistant.

The implant

The implant also replaces a missing tooth, but without affecting the neighboring teeth. This is a surgical procedure during which the implant is screwed into the jawbone, replacing the root.

It is necessary to wait six months for the operation to be perfectly healed and for the bone to be reconstituted around the implant. The dentist can then place the final prosthesis on the implant that serves as an abutment.

The advantage is to preserve the other teeth. In order to place an implant, the jawbone must be thick enough and in good condition, which often rules out people with periodontal disease.

The implant is robust and aesthetic, but expensive.

Removable prostheses

Removable prostheses are what we commonly call dentures. They can replace your natural teeth if you are missing several and it is not possible to use fixed dentures.

Tooth loss can result from an accident, poorly cared for teeth, heavy medication that has affected the mouth, or diseases such as periodontitis. It is important to have good teeth to be able to eat and chew correctly, for aesthetic reasons of course, and also to have good speech (the tongue must be able to rest on the teeth to form certain sounds).

Dentures can be complete, when they replace the entire upper dentition or the entire lower dentition, or partial if they replace only a few teeth.

The complete removable dental prosthesis

A complete removable denture replaces all of the teeth, but only in one jaw. You can have dentures for the upper jaw and your real teeth – and possibly fixed dentures – on the bottom, and vice versa.

You remove your dentures to clean them every day and eventually to sleep. It was usually made of ceramic, but is now more common in white acrylic resin for the teeth and pink for the gums. Indeed, the dentures reproduce the teeth, but also the gums.

Manufacturing and fitting of the complete removable denture

Your dental surgeon takes the necessary impressions for the prosthetist who will make the dentures. Dentures can be held in place naturally by the suction cup effect on the gums, but patients often resort to using dental glue.

What is dental adhesive?

Even if it is not always necessary, it is the fear that the denture will come off at any time of the day that pushes patients to systematically use glue.

It comes in the form of a paste that is spread on the cleaned and dried dentures. You place your dentures in your mouth and press firmly for a few seconds so that the glue sets. It is applied once a day.

If the denture is not holding together well, the dentist can place two implants to fix it better.

The advantages and disadvantages of removable dentures

If you do not have an implant, removable dentures are an affordable solution that allows you to regain your full speech and chewing ability. You avoid the long and painful phases of healing in the case of fixed prosthesis.

However, it can be difficult to get used to this prosthesis, especially if the shape of your mouth does not lend itself well to its holding and you tend to lose it, even with glue.

On the other hand, it is necessary to think about the cleaning after each meal and that it is necessary to remove it, which can be embracing in certain circumstances.

Dentures fixed on implants

By attaching two implants in the jaw, the dentist will be able to “anchor” your denture, which will go from being removable to being fixed. It will be necessary to wait six months for the jawbone to heal before the dentures can be attached.

The undeniable advantage is that the denture does not move, it is comfortable and allows you to chew and speak like your natural teeth.

Maintenance of removable dentures

You should treat your dentures like natural teeth, which means cleaning them thoroughly after every meal. The maintenance allows to keep its whiteness, but also to prevent the accumulation of bacteria. Just because it's synthetic doesn't mean that bacteria aren't interested in it. They look for cavities and gaps between your dentures and your gums to settle.

You must therefore remove your dentures and brush them with a moistened soft-bristle toothbrush. It is important to handle it with care and not to damage it by brushing it too hard.

The denture should also be soaked in an antiseptic solution for at least 15 minutes each day. Specially formulated effervescent tablets available in the market are very suitable.

When you're not wearing your dentures, you should always keep them in a moist environment, like your mouth, with your saliva. If it dries out, it may shrink and lose its shape which is perfectly adapted to your mouth.

In this regard, if you feel that your dentures do not fit properly, do not start the DIY process, only your dentist should handle them. You may injure yourself while wearing it due to improper adjustment, or damage or break it, at your expense. The dentist will know how to adjust it and, if he breaks it, he will be responsible for the replacement.

You should never rinse or soak your removable dentures in water that is too hot. This could damage the synthetic materials.

Once you have removed your dentures, you should brush your gums, tongue and natural teeth if you have any left. This removes plaque and stimulates blood flow inside your mouth, which ensures good oral health.

Poor hygiene creates significant risks. If you let bacteria grow in your mouth, you risk serious gum infections.

The complete removable dental prosthesis

Partial dentures replace several teeth, whether they are adjacent or not. It rests on the gums, but also on healthy natural teeth – or fixed prostheses – thanks to a system of clasps that give it greater stability.

The partial metal denture

The metal partial denture rests on the gums and remaining teeth with the help of a metal part equipped with clasps. It can be adapted to both jaws.

It is composed of the metal part that supports the part that reproduces the tooth in resin and the gum in pink acrylic. Well done, it can be perfectly discreet. Depending on its location, however, the hooks may be visible.

The partial metal denture, if well maintained, is practical and does not damage the teeth. It can, however, weaken and sensitize the teeth on which the hooks rest. It does not require surgery and is robust.

The acrylic partial denture

The acrylic partial denture has the same function as the metal partial denture. However, the fact that it is thicker and rests on a larger part of the palate makes it less comfortable and less stable. It is also less expensive.

This type of partial denture can sometimes fit without clasps and is made faster than metal ones.

The temporary dental prosthesis

The temporary dental prosthesis is made from your original teeth, and is used when the natural teeth are extracted so that you don't leave the dentist's office with a toothless mouth.

It also serves as a dressing and protects your gums that are raw and can bleed. It makes you wait until your final prosthesis is made and your mouth has completely healed. You can also speak and eat normally.

With a temporary denture, you must return to the dentist regularly to adjust it, because as your gums heal, they will deflate and the denture will hold less well.

What are the fees for dentures?

The rates are very diverse, because they depend on many factors: type of prosthesis, chosen solution, number of teeth to be replaced, removable or fixed, chosen materials…

In all cases, your dentist must give you an estimate. He will usually tell you the breakdown that Social Security applies. If you have supplemental health insurance, send them the estimate and they will tell you how much they will cover.

If your teeth require major care, you should look into mutual insurance companies that reimburse up to 400% of the Social Security amount.

Ask your dentist about his or her coverage. If a prosthesis that is supposed to last ten years comes off after a few months, unless there is an accident, then he has done a bad job and should not charge you for a new operation and the possible manufacture of a new prosthesis.

Here are some pricing guidelines, including fabrication and installation.

• Ceramic-metal crown: between 350 and 1200 €.
• All ceramic crown: between 600 and 1500 €.
• Inlay core prosthesis: between 130 and 300 €.
• Conventional bridge: between 1300 and 2000 €.
• Dental implant: between 1300 and 2400 €.
• Complete removable denture: between 1200 and 2500 €.
• Removable partial denture: between 400 and 550 €.

As of April^1, 2019, the maximum allowable amounts and reimbursement basis are as follows:

In any case, your dentist is the best person to advise you on the choice of prosthesis. However, you may want to check with another dentist to make sure that it is really no longer possible to save your natural teeth before moving on to fixed or removable dentures.

And if you are looking for a good mutual insurance for your dentures, don't hesitate to use our online comparator. It is 100% free and without obligation and will allow you to find the best mutual insurance offer according to your needs:

Dentures : FAQ

What is the best denture?

The best denture is the one that suits your particular case. If you need to replace a missing tooth, an implant may be appropriate, but if you need to cover several badly damaged teeth, a natural root bridge may be the most appropriate option.

Which dentures are 100% reimbursed?

These include zirconia and ceramic crowns for the “smile” teeth (incisors, canines and first premolars), metal crowns for all teeth and metal-ceramic bridges replacing an incisor.