Prettau Bridges &
Prettau® Zirconia Bridges are high-quality, natural-looking bridges that look brilliant and feel great. What makes this tooth replacement method even more unique is that it combines the treatment of a bridge with dental implants, bringing the best of both worlds into one treatment that can replace one or more missing teeth. A milled bar overdenture can replace an entire arch of teeth with a secured denture that won’t slip or fall out. Here at Tharp & Klaus in Jackson, MS, we want our patients to feel good about their complete smiles, and these can be achieved through Prettau Bridges or Milled Bar Overdentures.
What is a Prettau® Bridge?
The Prettau® Bridge is a full arch tooth replacement option utilizing implants and a custom all zirconia prosthesis that is securely attached to the implants. There are no attachments to wear out, there is no acrylic to break, and the custom staining and glazing process makes for a beautiful and natural looking smile.
A major issue with other full arch replacement options is that they are made with an acrylic base. Acrylic wears down over time, and it can crack and chip. Furthermore, the teeth themselves are often made of acrylic. With acrylic teeth being held together by an acrylic base, issues will arise. Prettau® Bridges are made of 100% zirconia using the Zirkonkahn® milling system. After milling, the Prettau® Bridge is custom stained, fired, and glazed to produce an esthetic result unique to that patient. The final result is a beautiful, strong, and exceptionally functional dental prosthesis.
What is a Milled Bar Overdenture?
A bar overdenture is an implant supported denture that attaches to a bar connecting multiple implants rather than an overdenture that attaches to separate implants. If you are building a house on stilts, would you not splint the stilts together before building your house? How stable is a stool with legs that are not connected? Overdentures follow the same concept: the more stable the foundation (implants) the stronger and more functional the stool (denture).
Overdentures utilizing indivitual unsplinted implants have become a very popular tooth replacement option. Two to five implants are placed, and a denture is attached using locator attachments (like snaps) that come prepackaged in a plastic bag. While retention is increased, bone loss usually continues (regardless of what you have heard). If the implants are not placed just right, either due to poor bone quality or placement error, function suffers and the implants can even fail due to force overload. A bar overdenture connects all the implants in one arch, creating a much more stable platform for the denture. The bar is custom made for each case so that less than ideal implant angulation becomes a non issue. The denture then is able to attach to a bar, not individual implants. The implants on the right side are splinted to the ones on the left, creating an important prosthodontic concept known as cross arch stabilization. The result is an overdenture that functions at the highest level, and the cross arch stabilization can even result in bone gain.
Contact Us About Teeth Replacement Options in Jackson, MS
Individual dental implants aren’t the only option for patients with one or more missing teeth here; in fact, those with multiple missing teeth can take advantage of Prettau® bridges and milled bar overdentures, which combine both implants and multiple tooth replacements for a seamless, strong look. Consult with Drs. Tharp and Klaus and discover how you can qualify for these treatments.