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Dr. Martin R. Aidelbaum Inc. |
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Making Your New Teeth When your gum tissues have completely healed after Stage 2 surgery, you are ready to visit your restorative dentist and begin fabrication of your new artificial teeth. Your dentist will make impressions of your mouth, and bite registrations that record the way your jaws fit together, then the impressions are used to make models of your jaws and any remaining teeth. Your artificial teeth will be made based on these models. Your artificial teeth (called "restorations" or a "prosthesis") will be either removable, fixed, or a combination of both. |
A removable prosthesis is similar to a conventional denture or partial denture, in that you can remove it from the mouth to clean it, but it has the advantage of being fastened to the implant abutments by clips, magnets or other devices. Artificial teeth and gum tissue are mounted on a metal framework, and the framework attaches to the implant abutments.
A fixed prosthesis can replace one tooth, several teeth, or even all of your teeth. The artificial teeth are screwed into the abutments, or cemented onto the abutments, and held firmly in place. If some natural teeth remain in the mouth, parts of the prosthesis may be connected to some of these teeth. A fixed prosthesis can only be removed by your dentist, and it is specially designed to allow you to clean it. If a fixed prosthesis is replacing many teeth, the artificial teeth will be mounted on a metal frame that must fit the implant abutments precisely. Your restorative dentist may have you wear the prosthesis for a while to make sure it fits properly before final attachment to the abutments.
It may take several appointments to complete your prosthesis, depending on the complexity of your case.