If you have lost one or more teeth and provided that the resulting gap is enclosed by natural teeth, it is possible to close this gap with a conventional bridge.

Full cast bridges are made exclusively of metal (high-gold, reduced-gold or non-precious metal alloy) and are relatively inexpensive to produce. However, the drawback is that their color is unlike natural teeth. Therefore they should be reserved for the posterior region.

A ceramic veneered bridge, unlike a non-veneered full cast bridge, is a visually far more esthetic type of tooth replacement. It comprises a metallic frame which is fully or partly covered with tooth-colored dental ceramic. The veneer is customized to the individual patient in terms of shape and color as it is applied to the metal.

If you have lost several teeth, the only remaining option is often the provision of a removable denture. A removable denture in the form of partial and full prostheses is regarded as less favorable than a fixed denture in terms of function.

A partial denture (or prosthesis) is a removable tooth replacement for patients with a residual dentition. It is fixed to the remaining teeth with brackets. Partial prostheses, however, are not suitable as permanent solutions because the teeth are damaged and loosened by the retaining brackets.
Furthermore, the toothless section of the jaw is subject to shrinkage of the jaw bone, so that regular rebasing of the partial denture is necessary in most patients in order to improve the fit of the prosthesis on its base. After an impression of the edentulous part of the jaw has been taken, the prosthesis base (supporting surface on the alveolar ridge) is reshaped to improve the seating and retention of the denture.

Complete (or full) dentures are used for people with no natural teeth left. Complete dentures mainly achieve anchorage via the effect of suction between the denture base and the mucous membrane. This is why it is absolutely essential that the prosthesis fits perfectly.
Complete dentures transfer all masticatory forces directly to the mucosa that they cover and the underlying jaw bone. Chewing function is additionally reduced a great deal because of the limited anchorage of the denture in the mouth. Retention of the denture will deteriorate further because a total absence of teeth leads to degeneration of the jaw bone over time. Rebasing and bonding agents usually only help in the short term.

A combined denture involves a combination of fixed and removable dental prostheses. Removable prostheses are anchored to the remaining teeth with telescopic crowns, slide attachments or bars, so that cosmetically unattractive brackets are not needed, the retaining teeth are protected more effectively against carious damage and the patient enjoys far greater wearing comfort.

Nowadays implant-supported dentures are increasingly superseding conventional dentures. Implants can essentially replace single, several or even all teeth that have been lost. The implants provide anchorage for crowns, bridges and prostheses.
Neighboring teeth do not have to be ground back, retentive components do not loosen any teeth and there is no bone shrinkage in the relevant sections of the jaw. This cannot otherwise be avoided in edentulous areas.

The cause of many ailments, especially tension headaches, migraine and tight muscles at the back of the neck, lies in the masticatory system. In addition, difficulties when chewing because of the incorrect position of teeth, interfering contact points due to fillings or defective dentures can lead to permanent damage in the temporomandibular joints or osteoarthritis. Clicking or popping noises of the jaw are actually an indication of a diseased change to the temporomandibular joint.
Furthermore, the muscles of mastication are often under strain due to stress-related gnashing or grinding of the teeth.

What is the purpose of functional analysis?
For planning and fabricating abutments and dentures and for realigning teeth during orthodontic measures, we need diagnostically precise details of the position of the jaws in the cranium, the movement of the TMJ and the position of the teeth in relation to each other. Only precisely recorded data will allow an analytical assessment of the patient’s individual mouth and jaw situation to be carried out.
This enables us to create the ideal conditions for achieving the intended treatment outcome but also helps prevent long-term damage in the temporomandibular joints.
If TMJ complaints, muscular or facial pain and stress-related tension already exist, functional analysis helps to identify the causes of these symptoms. Based on the examination results, it is then possible to find a remedy.

The use of functional analysis has proved effective in the following cases:

• Restorative measures (build-ups, crowns, bridges, dentures)
• Diseases of the temporomandibular joints (joint noises, e.g. rubbing or clicking, pain, restricted movement)
• Diseases of the muscles of mastication (tense muscles, pain)
• Periodontal diseases with defective loading (fabrication of bite splints)
• Extensive orthodontic treatment