Restoring the oral function and achieving aesthetics.

Tooth loss can be due to multiple factors like trauma/injury, dental caries, general disease like uncontrolled diabetes, para-functional habits such as grinding and clenching etc. Loss of tooth/teeth creates both aesthetic and functional concerns. Loss of tooth/teeth may result in facial changes, loss of chewing ability & consequently may lead to confidence & self esteem.

Prosthodontics or dental prosthetics is a specialty in dentistry which involves restoration and rehabilitation of oral health, function and aesthetics of individuals with missing tooth/teeth and those who have undergone maxillo-facial surgeries due to trauma, oral cancers etc.

A Prosthodontist, like Dr. Khandpur, may employ multitude of options like Implants, Crowns, Bridges, Removable Dentures (partial & Complete) depending on the clinical condition and only the best options to restore the patients oral function and aesthetics.

• Crowns
• Bridges
• Dentures
• Veneers
• Full Mouth Rehabilitation
• Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) / Temporomandibular Disease (TMD)
• Cleft Palate

“Loss of Tooth loss may result in facial changes, loss of function (chewing ability) and may lower one’s confidence and self-esteem.”

“Replacement and maintenance of the teeth and the restoration of the best possible appearance of a person’s smile.”

Crown and Bridges

Dental Crowns

Crowns, also known as caps, restore damaged teeth and simulate the size, shape and color of the adjacent teeth. Crowns are indicated for grossly damaged teeth or ones with deep cavities, as restoration after root canal treatment or camouflage poorly shaped or discolored teeth. Choosing a crown may not be simple as they can be made of metal, porcelain fused to metal, gold or complete ceramic like zirconia or e-max. These are customized for each patient and conform to the size and shape of surrounding natural teeth. Crowns typically last a good time provided good oral hygiene is maintained.

 

Fixed Partial Dentures (Bridges)

A bridge aims at replacing a lost tooth/teeth in the mouth and helps restore both function and aesthetics of an individual. Bridges also provide stability and do not allow migration or tilting of teeth into vacant areas, hence preventing any excess dental intervention.

Bridges are  more definitive solution as they are fixed and patients cannot remove them voluntarily. The missing tooth is replaced with an artificial tooth connected between two crowns (caps), which are cemented or bonded on the adjacent teeth.

However, bridges also have limitations in terms of the number of missing teeth that can be replaced. Also, the supporting should be healthy and capable of supporting the bridge and need to be evaluated clinically before any final decision can be made.

Dentures

Complete dentures are a treatment modality for patients who have lost all of their natural teeth and need rehabilitation with a set of new teeth for restoration of function as well as esthetics. Replacing missing teeth is important and will help to improve your appearance and smile. Without support from the denture, facial muscles tend to sag, making a person look older. Dentures can help you eat and speak more comfortably. Complete dentures are removable and are supported by the underlying bone, gums and remaining oral tissues. This treatment is among the oldest and most successful modalities to replace all missing teeth.  The procedure requires multiple appointments during which various clinical procedures are carried out and the denture is delivered to the patient. Follow up appointments are a must for check up and minor adjustments.

It is imperative for the patient to understand that the dentures are foreign body and will need sometime before you become comfortable with them.

Full Mouth Rehabilitation

Teeth can become damaged or fall out owing to a number of reasons.. Multiple missing or badly damaged teeth and prolonged neglect can necessitate the need for  a full mouth rehabilitation or reconstruction. Full mouth rehabilitation refers to rebuilding or replacing all of the teeth in a patient’s mouth to improve the health, function, and beauty of the mouth. In most cases, a full mouth rehabilitation plan is made after a detailed examination and history from the patient. The entire treatment requires multiple appointments and procedures to be done.

Oral Cancer Rehabilitation

Surgery is the core treatment modality in the management of oral cancer, which eventually leads to maxillofacial defects, altered speech and difficulty in swallowing. The role of a prosthodontist cannot be overemphasized in the replacement of lost orofacial structures post-surgery. Prosthetic Rehabilitation includes the obturators for the maxillary defects and the guide flange prosthesis for the mandibular defects. Obturators are prepared before surgery and inserted after the surgery. This allows the patient to speak and swallow immediately after surgery. As the wounds of patients heals, it is necessary to revise the obturator periodically.

TMJ Disorders

Temporomandibular Joint Disorders refers to a variety of conditions that can affect the Temporomandibular joint and the jaw muscles(muscles that help in chewing food). Pain or stiffness at the joint, which limitates the opening and closing of the jaw are the most commonly associated symptoms with TMJ disorders. This could happen due to a number of reasons , the most common being an Improper Bite(how the teeth fit together). Stress, dislocation,arthritis and  any  trauma to the joint could also be the cause.