Elastic acrylic: new generation removable dentures

Clasp prosthetics is a popular method of restoring the dentition, which uses removable dentures with clasps (hooks) and attachments (locks).

Designs with clasps are at least half the price, but they are durable, strong and reliable, and do not require special care. They are also considered a budget alternative to implants and a reliable analogue of bridges and plate prostheses.

Features of clasp dentures on hooks

The structure consists of the following elements:

• arc (in German – bugel);
• artificial teeth (attached to an arch);
• base (gum simulator);
• clasps (hooks that secure the prosthesis to the supporting teeth).

If for conventional plastic prostheses fixation was provided by a massive and thick base, then clasps are also responsible for reliable fastening of clasp structures. Therefore, the base is made thin, with reduced volume.

This design is much more convenient: the anterior part of the palate on the upper jaw is not covered by the base plastic and this does not affect diction or taste sensations. On the lower jaw, a miniature base gives freedom to the tongue and reduces the risk of the structure falling out due to its movements.

Indications for installation

In dentistry, clasp prosthetics are recommended in cases where it is not possible to make dentures on implants (contraindications, financial issue), or a person is afraid to install fixed dentures. Then there is a solution - the clasp system. But only if there are two supporting teeth.

The clasp can perform a splinting function. In case of periodontal disease and loose jaw teeth, the orthodontist will prescribe it to fix and prevent mobility of the elements of the row.

Contraindications for installation:

• bruxism;
• metal allergy;
• absence of supporting teeth or they are low;
• bite pathology (deep occlusion);
• short bridle;
• inflammatory processes on the gums and in the oral cavity;
• shallow sky;
• mental illness.

Work examples

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Advantages and disadvantages

Advantages:

• strength (structures with a metal arc are much stronger than plate ones);
• durability (they last up to 10 years, and plate ones need to be changed every 2-3 years);
• no need to grind the supporting teeth (unlike a bridge, which is fixed only to the processed teeth);
• ease of wearing (due to the thin and non-volume base);
• relatively low cost (cheaper than implants and ceramic bridges);
• assistance in the treatment of periodontal disease (splinting structures hold teeth with pathological mobility).

Minuses:

• low aesthetics (clasps are visible when you smile);
• long addiction (due to the base on the sky, addiction takes a couple of weeks);
• the pressure of the clasps on the tooth enamel (with strong chewing loads, the enamel can be damaged).

To avoid these disadvantages, many choose clasp dentures with locks.

Expert opinion

Roman Borisovich Alekperov

orthopedic dentist

Experience: 24 years

Advantages of clasps over attachments. When there is a need to restore the dentition, and the dental defects are scattered, the patient does not have enough financial resources, I recommend installing clasp dentures with clasps. You quickly get used to them, their production does not require much time, the chewing load is distributed on the teeth, and not on the gums, as is the case with lamellar ones. Yes, the aesthetics are insufficient because of the visible hooks, but you have teeth, you can eat, drink, and live a normal life.

Types of clasp dentures with clasp fixation

According to the design and purpose of the structure, two types of prostheses are distinguished - conventional and splinting.

Conventional clasp dentures with clasps

They are recommended in cases where it is not possible to place implants and there are still teeth in the mouth that can be used as a support for a prosthesis. The design allows you to eliminate such dental defects as:

• absence of three or more teeth in a row (front, side, on one side of the jaw and/or on different ones);
• terminal defects of the dentition (when the last teeth are missing).

Conventional clasp prosthesis

Splinting clasp dentures on hooks

They differ from ordinary ones in that in their design they have special retainers (processes on the arch) for supporting teeth. Used to restore dentition in patients suffering from:

• pathological mobility of teeth (the prosthesis fixes loose teeth and protects them from excessive chewing load);
• malocclusion (the design holds the teeth in the correct position, thereby correcting abnormal jaw closure);
• increased abrasion of the upper teeth (the prosthesis covers the chewing surface of worn-out teeth, making them higher and protecting them from further abrasion).

Splinting clasp prosthesis

Depending on the materials, there are 2 types of clasp dentures:

1. Prostheses containing metal. The arc and clasps (and sometimes the base frame) of such structures are made of chromium-cobalt or gold-platinum alloy.
2. Metal-free structures. The so-called Quadrotti prostheses (Quattro Ti) with nylon clasps and a base made of a mixture of nylon and hypoallergenic plastic.

Types and structure of clasps

Clasp fasteners can be retaining (settle under load, transfer pressure to the oral mucosa), support (evenly distribute pressure under load during clenching, unclenching teeth, talking, eating on the supporting teeth and gums), support-retaining. The latest (combined) types of hooks have a complex design:

• body (fixed element located in the upper part of the tooth);
• shoulders (adjacent in front and behind to the supporting units);
• occlusal overlay (a protective barrier that prevents the clasp from immersing in soft tissue and transfers the load to the supporting teeth);
• process (connects the hook to the base of the prosthesis).

Classification of clasps:

• round, flat, ribbon, semicircular (in shape);
• single-, double-armed, double-armed, single-linked, ring-shaped (according to the girth of the tooth);
• holding, supporting, supporting-holding (by function);
• cast and bent (according to technology and materials of manufacture).

The main advantage of clasp structures is the ability to remove them at night and provide rest to the oral mucosa and supporting teeth. Hooks on clasp dentures must meet a number of requirements: securely fix the structure, distribute the chewing load along the axis of the teeth and oral mucosa. Clasps should not affect teeth at rest; in case of periodontitis, they also have a fixing function.

Manufacturing stages and installation

Prosthetics with clasp dentures with clasps includes two main stages - clinical and laboratory. From the moment you contact the clinic until the restoration of the dentition, the following stages occur:

1. Examination. The doctor draws up a prosthetic plan, makes a conclusion about the state of oral health and, if necessary, sends the patient for treatment of caries and/or periodontal disease.
2. Taking an impression of both jaws.
3. Making a prosthesis in the laboratory. Structures with metal elements are made by casting methods, while plastic ones are produced under exposure to high temperatures.
4. Trying on the finished design. If necessary, correction is carried out.
5. Installation of the prosthesis.

On average, the clinical and laboratory stages of prosthetics take one week.

Contraindications

The installation of structures is contraindicated in the following cases:

• The presence of less than 4 healthy teeth in the jaw;
• Complete edentia;
• Low level of hygienic care;
• Allergic reaction to the materials used;
• Periodontal disease in stage 3;
• Severe bone atrophy;
• Pregnancy and lactation period;
• Acute viral, bacterial diseases;
• Exacerbation of chronic pathologies of the body;
• Mental disorders;
• Serious diseases that cast doubt on the success of treatment (oncology, tuberculosis, diabetes, AIDS, etc.)

How to care for a prosthesis?

Clasp dentures with clasps should be cleaned at least twice a day, or better yet, after each meal. Hygienic measures include:

• rinsing the structure under running water after eating;

cleaning with a brush and low-abrasive paste at least twice a day;

• daily disinfection (soaking in solutions of disinfectant tablets Corega, Lacalut, Efferdent, President, Dentipur, Dontodent, etc.);
• professional cleaning (performed by a dentist to remove hard deposits).

To maintain the original appearance of the prosthesis, you should not abuse smoking, coffee and tea, which cause artificial teeth to change color and become covered with plaque.

It is advisable not to remove the prosthesis at night and to remain in it constantly. Once every six months you need to visit the dentist to reline the structure (correction to evenly distribute the chewing load).

The result of prosthetics depends not only on the quality of the prosthesis, but also on the qualifications and skill of the orthopedic dentist. Our website provides an up-to-date list of clinics that effectively restore dentition using clasp structures.

Stages of prosthetics

During the first visit, the dentist assesses the general condition of the patient’s oral cavity and prepares the teeth for prosthetics. The supporting units are ground to fit the crowns (later clasps will be attached to them).

The aesthetic properties of clasp prostheses leave much to be desired: when smiling, during a conversation, metal hooks become noticeable to others

After this, the specialist takes a picture of the patient’s jaw and determines the shade of the future artificial teeth using a scale. Temporary crowns are placed on the prepared units. Next, clasp structures and crowns are made in the laboratory, and when ready, the latter are fixed to the teeth. The dentist tries on the frame of the prosthesis, this is followed by finalizing the product in the laboratory and handing over the removable structure to the patient.

Prices

Expert of the article you are reading: Natalich Boris Anatolyevich Chief physician, CMN, doctor of the highest category, orthopedist, surgeon, implantologist, leading specialist of the NovaDent network

38 years
Clinical experience

Otradnoe

st. Khachaturyan, 7

+7 +7

Free consultation with this specialist

How much does a clasp prosthesis cost?

The price of lower jaw prosthetics using a clasp design depends on the following factors:

• base and frame material;
• the number of teeth that need to be restored with a prosthesis;
• material for dental crowns.

The average price of a clasp prosthesis is from 32,000 rubles. The price, as a rule, already includes payment for the prosthesis itself, treatment planning, installation of the system, and check-ups with the dentist.

Clasp dentures are an inexpensive and accessible way to restore a smile with a long service life (more than 10 years).