Clasp prosthesis: manufacturing steps and technology

At present, the achievements of science have advanced far ahead. To correct congenital or acquired defects of the dentoalveolar system is now quite possible. And it can be done not only in children, but also in adults. Let's try to figure out what the clasp dentures are, the stages of manufacturing such structures will also be considered.

Assignment of clasp prostheses

This type of prosthesis is excellent in strength, so this design is used widely enough in dentistry:

• To eliminate defects in the teeth at the end of the dentition.
• For the treatment of side pathology.
• As removable dentures when replacing the teeth of the front row.
• For prosthetics of staggering teeth.

If a dentist for orthopedic treatment recommends using clasp dentures on attachments, the result will exceed all your expectations. Such constructions are not only light, but also look beautiful, practically do not differ from real teeth.

What is a clasp prosthesis?

If clasp dentures are considered (the manufacturing steps will be described later), they represent an arc consisting of three main parts:

1. Cast frame of durable metal.
2. Imitating gum plastic foundation.
3. Artificial teeth, which are fixed on the basis.

To make it possible to install such a prosthesis, you must have at least a couple of your teeth, then the design can be reliably secured.

Varieties of clasp prostheses

In order to consider the laboratory stages of manufacturing a clasp prosthesis, it is necessary to know which varieties such constructions are. They are classified more often by the method of attachment in the oral cavity.

1. Lock prosthesis on attachmenah. Reliably fixed on the supporting teeth with the help of a crown and special micro-locks, which are completely invisible, because they are mounted directly into the prosthesis. This is an ideal option when you need to restore the dentition with the loss of several teeth. The steps of manufacturing the clasp prosthesis on attachments will be described below.
2. Clamming. The prosthesis has a clamping attachment and evenly distributes the load on the jaw. It is convenient to use, as it is easily pulled out and put in place.
3. Telescopic. Prostheses on telescopic crowns are the most expensive. Work on their manufacture requires high accuracy and care. The main elements of the prosthesis are a conical base and a tooth crown with a cavity inside, ideally repeating the shape of the base. The base on which the design is worn can be a sharpened tooth or an installed crown. This design provides a stable and reliable fixation.

The stages of manufacturing a clasp prosthesis on the clasps are much less laborious. They are easier to make, and they are attached with the help of small, but strong hooks on the available teeth. But the downside of this design is that when you smile or talk, hooks can be visible. A much more aesthetic look prostheses on attachmenah. These are small locks, but they firmly and reliably fix the prosthesis on the supporting teeth.

Recently, more and more popular designs on telescopic dental crowns.

Stages of manufacturing a clasp prosthesis with a lock fixation require more painstaking work, which certainly affects their cost.

From what materials do dentures are made

All parts of the prosthesis are made using different materials. The frame can be metal or plastic. If plastic is used for a nonmetallic part, steel or alloys, for example, chromium-cobalt or gold-platinum, are used for the metal.

The steel construction has its own drawback - an oxide film is formed in the place of soldering. And this indicates that the process of oxidation of the solder in the oral cavity is in progress. For this reason, nowadays steel parts are used less and less often, preference is given to solid-cast structures.

Technologies of reception of a clasp prosthesis

All must, of course, understand that it is possible to make such a complex construction only in a dental laboratory. To do this, use different methods:

1. Casting of the structure with removal from the workpiece of the wax model. This technology involves removing the structure of wax from a gypsum model and packing it into a refractory mass. The wax is removed and replaced with liquid metal.
2. Casting the prosthesis on a refractory model. This method has some advantages over the first, since there is no metal shrinkage and the possibility of modifying the workpiece from wax is eliminated when it is removed from the model and packed into a refractory mass.

Let us consider in more detail the stages of manufacturing a clasp prosthesis on a refractory model. This process is very important for obtaining a quality product.

Obtaining a design on a refractory model

Laboratory stages of manufacturing of a clasp prosthesis include an important point - the making of casts. The initial gypsum model plays an enormous role in obtaining the casting of the prosthesis frame (in order to be exactly up to a millimeter).

If the prosthesis is prepared on a refractory model, then make two copies of the workers and one additional. In the manufacture of prostheses immediately on two jaws receive four, that is on two from each jaw. This is done so that one model can be used for examination with subsequent copying, and the second one is used to make a base with rollers, to determine occlusion, grafting and final manufacturing of the prosthesis.

The working model plays a huge role in obtaining a quality prosthesis, therefore the specialist must constantly keep under control clinical and laboratory stages of manufacturing of clasp prostheses.

Models of jaws should be as strong as possible so that they do not undergo abrasion, so parts that are particularly pressure-resistant and loaded are made of super-gypsum, metal, cement or amalgam.

If a defect in the working model is detected in the process of work, then the mold must be altered.

Clinical stages of clasp prosthesis

In the process of manufacturing prostheses clinical stages are several:

1. The first stage begins with examining the patient, talking with him, setting an accurate diagnosis, choosing a pathology treatment tactic. Also, the doctor will remove the molds for the preparation of diagnostic and auxiliary models.
2. At the second clinical stage, the jaw occlusion is determined, the diagnostic model is examined in a parallelometer, after which a drawing of the foundation of the future prosthesis is applied to it. It is important to prepare the supporting teeth in order to obtain the mold for the prosthesis as precisely as possible.
3. At the next stage, focusing on the diagnostic model, the boundary line and the skeleton of the prosthesis are applied using a parallelometer on the working model.
4. At the fourth clinical stage, the metal frame is fitted in the oral cavity. It is necessary to pay attention, that the skeleton did not have sharp edges and defects. The saddle base and the arch should not touch the mucous membrane of the oral cavity. Clammers should be close to the supporting teeth. The doctor looks closely and determines if there is a balance of the prosthesis and, if necessary, eliminates the supercontacts between the carcass and the antagonist teeth. Also at this stage there is a selection of artificial teeth.
5. Then follows the design check. It is necessary to make sure that the clinical and laboratory stages of the clasp prosthesis are complied with, and it meets all the requirements both on the model and in the oral cavity of the patient.
6. The last step is to put a prosthesis in the mouth, check the balance. The doctor must give advice on the care of the structure.

All these stages of manufacturing a clasp prosthesis on locks or clasps are mandatory. This is the only way to get a solid and reliable design.

Stages of manufacturing prostheses in the laboratory

Clasp prosthesis stages of manufacture have also laboratory, here what actions are spent on their length:

1. At the first stage, the diagnostic model and the auxiliary one are cast. Manufacture of wax bases with occlusal ridges.
2. Next is the production of the working model.
3. Prepare for duplication. For this place, which should not come into contact with the oral mucosa, is insulated with a wax plate, and all voids are also filled with wax. Further, the model is fixed on a special ditching cage. A hot mass is placed in it and cooled until solidified. Then the model is removed and a refractory mass is poured into the mold. The prepared model is released from the duplicating mass, dried and a skeleton drawing of the future prosthesis is applied to it. Next, wax reproduction is modeled and replaced by a metal one.
4. At the next stage, the working and auxiliary models are plastered into the articulator and artificial teeth are placed on the wax base of the prosthesis.
5. At the last stage, the wax base is changed to plastic. Also at the end of the polishing and polishing of the prosthesis is mandatory.

On this, we can assume that the clasp prosthesis stages of manufacturing have all passed and are ready for installation.

Indications and contraindications

If there is no possibility to put a bridge, the doctor advises the patient with clasp dentures to correct the defect. Usually this can not be avoided if there are not several teeth in a row and the supporting ones are preserved only on one side. Clasp dentures will also be needed in the following cases:

• If there are no anterior teeth.
• There is a defect in the dentition.
• There are no lower teeth.
• The patient has a deep bite.
• Bruxism is also an indication for the use of such prostheses.
• Periodontal disease.

In addition to indications for their use, it is possible to highlight categorical prohibitions on the use of clasp prostheses:

• If there is an allergy to the metal structure.
• No teeth, so that you can rely on them.
• The bottom of the lower jaw has insufficient depth.
• The remaining teeth have a low crown part.
• The sugar content in the blood is too high.
• There are oncological diseases.
• Pathology of the cardiovascular system.
• Inflammatory processes in the oral cavity.
• Diseases of the respiratory system.

Advantages and disadvantages of clasp prostheses

Whatever designs are used in prosthetics, they all have their pros and cons. The same applies to clasp prostheses. Here are the advantages they have:

• Compact and lightweight.
• Well fixed in the oral cavity.
• Correctly distributed when chewing pressure on the jaw.
• If the prosthesis is fixed on the upper jaw, then the entire sky is not affected, which does not lead to a violation of pronunciation and deformation of taste sensations.
• Perfectly suitable for the treatment of periodontal disease.
• Ease of care.
• Long term of use.

There are clasp prostheses and their cons:

• Some patients may have an allergy to the metal structure.
• Have to get used to them for a long time.
• To put them, you must have at least a pair of your teeth.
• Gradually there is atrophy of the dental bone.
• Their cost is much higher if compared with plate or bridges.

Of course, there are many more advantages to this method of prosthetics, but before installing it, you still need to weigh the pros and cons.

How to care for clasp dentures?

The sequence of clinico-laboratory stages of manufacturing of clasp prostheses is considered. If you follow them, the design will be strong and reliable. Despite the fact that clasp prostheses are distinguished by their longevity, some recommendations for care will prolong their life:

• Daily clean the prosthesis, for this you can use a conventional toothbrush.
• It is advisable to treat the oral cavity and prosthesis not only in the morning and in the evening, but after each meal.

• It is recommended to purchase special disinfecting tablets to care for the prosthesis.
• If you have the means, you can buy an ultrasonic bath for care.
• It is advisable to visit once a half a year a specialist who will professionally clean the prosthesis and restore, if it is required.

From these recommendations it becomes clear that care for clasp dentures is not at all complicated, but necessary, so that their wearing is not only comfortable, but also lasting.

With any pathology in the structure of the dentoalveolar system, only a competent specialist will be able to assess the severity of the defect and choose the most optimal method of prosthetics.