The alternatives to implants are fixed dentures (bridge) and removable dentures (partial* or full prosthesis**).
Smaller gaps of missing teeth are usually treated with bridge restorations, while larger gaps are restored with partial prostheses and a completely toothless jaw is treated with a full prosthesis.
These solutions have a few advantages but they also have important disadvantages.
*Partial denture (conventional):
Larger gaps between the teeth can
be bridged with partial prostheses. The denture is secured to the remaining teeth with clasps or other
retainers. This variant is economical but does not usually provide an esthetically satisfactory result
and can
lead to problems with oral hygiene. In addition, the teeth used for securing the clasps can be loosened
by poor loading. This can even lead to these teeth being lost too.
**Full denture (conventional):
Full dentures are used to provide people
who have no teeth with a functional set of teeth. With this solution, the new teeth are affixed to a
gum-colored acrylic base. In the upper jaw, these restorations are held in place by suction. The sensation
of taste can be greatly impaired because the palate is covered by the denture. A substantial jaw ridge
helps to hold full dentures in place. However, with the absence of a tooth root, there are no bite forces
transferred to the bone, causing it to atrophy and deteriorating the fit of the denture.
