Dental Terms Patients Should Know
Prosthesis, abutment, occlusal guard, osteointegration. What are these words? I’m a prosthodontist, and I’m going to break down some of the words that we use in our everyday language and help translate them into everyday terms.
Prosthesis
“Prosthesis” is just a general term for anything that we make that we put in your mouth, whether it’s a crown, a bridge, or a removable appliance like a partial or a denture.
Implant
Most of the implants we use are made out of titanium. It’s basically a small screw that goes into the bone, and once it heals and the bone cells grow onto it, it’s anchored into your jawbone. That enables us to attach a tooth on top of it.
Abutment
The abutment is the piece that attaches to the implant and allows us to cement the crown on top. An abutment can also refer to a tooth that holds up a long-span bridge.
Overdenture
An overdenture is similar to a conventional denture except it has the ability to attach into implants in your mouth. Typically, this is used when you have two implants in your lower jaw with two attachments that stick through the gum tissue. When you put the lower denture in, it snaps into place and engages. We also do overdentures on the top.
Immediate Denture
An immediate denture is an appliance made for the day of surgery. Before we extract any teeth, we take study models and guides so we can make your immediate denture. On the day of surgery, when the surgeon removes the teeth, the immediate denture goes in so you leave with a full set of teeth.
In addition to protecting the extraction sites, it allows you to chew and function. I call it a fancy band-aid because it looks and feels like your denture but protects and allows you to heal much quicker. Typically, you’ll wear your immediate denture for about 3 to 6 months until the bone and tissue heal. After that, we start making your permanent denture.
Occlusal Guard
An occlusal guard is just a fancy term for a night guard. It’s a horseshoe-shaped acrylic piece that you put on your upper teeth to protect them from grinding and clenching overnight.
Bite Registration
Bite registration refers to the record we take that tells the lab exactly how your top and bottom teeth come together. When designing a crown, bridge, or any prosthesis, this ensures that when you bite down for the first time, it fits your mouth just right. Without a bite record, the crown could be too tall or too short.
Final Thoughts
If you have any other prosthodontic terms you’re curious about, comment below. I’d love to hear your questions and help educate you on the words we use every day.
I’m Dr. Brett Langston. I’m a prosthodontist and dental implant aesthetic specialist here in Brookhaven, Georgia. I’m here to help you watch your mouth.
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