TELESCOPIC DENUTRES AND BRIDGES

[Drsumitra]

Pros
replace missing teeth
improved appearance compared to clasp retained partial dentures
improve chewing ability
provides support to the periodontal structures
cheaper than comparable implant sustained bridges
can be easily fabricated and applied when there are at least two or three teeth left on the jaw. Ideally it would be fitted on 4 to 6 teeth to achieve best results
does not need clasps or other visible metallic parts on the front teeth
the bridge sits tight although it can be easily removed in order to practice the regular mouth hygiene
prevents future tooth loss. The secondary framework can prevent further tooth loss especially when teeth are weakened by periodontitis (gum disease)
the dual support on teeth and gums will distribute the chewing forces equally onto the teeth and gums thus preventing the teeth from overloading. Overloading is one of the most frequent cause of tooth loss
long life expectancy. Our experience shows that telescopic dentures inserted on 4 and more teeth have an average lifespan of at least 10 years and often more than that
best suited for patients who do not want or can not have implant surgery due to anxiety, high costs for implants, diseases or medication that will not allow the insertion of implants
maintenance, repairs and extension can be easily done at low costs
In case of tooth loss there is no need to make a new bridge. The framework can be easily extended within minutes. A fixed bridge or an implant supported bridge would need an expensive complete renewal.
Con
under circumstances healthy teeth need to be prepped thus resulting in loss of healthy tooth substance. This may apply for fixed bridges as well
it needs to be taken out of the mouth at least once a day for cleaning. This may be bothersome for some patient
wearing a removable denture might be hard to overcome psychologically, giving a sense of ageing
the telescopic crowns are slightly larger (bulky) than similar ceramic crowns
requires more appointments for completion when compared to fixed bridges
it often requires a palatine (roof of the mouth) metal bow in the upper jaw that spans across the palate, and in the lower jaw a thin metal bow behind the front teeth
at the beginning it may look expensive than comparable fixed bridges. But seen on a long term basis due to low follow-up costs it is definitely the best choice