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Tmj jaw problem: TMJ disorders – Symptoms and causes

TMD (Temporomandibular Disorders) | National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

On this page

  1. Overview
  2. Causes
  3. Symptoms
  4. Diagnosis
  5. Treatment
  6. Helpful Tips
  7. Additional Resources

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Overview

Healthy temporomandibular joint during mouth opening & closing.

Temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) are a group of more than 30 conditions that cause pain and dysfunction in the jaw joint and muscles that control jaw movement. “TMDs” refers to the disorders, and “TMJ” refers only to the temporomandibular joint itself. People have two TMJs; one on each side of the jaw. You can feel them by placing your fingers in front of your ears and opening your mouth.

There are three main classes of TMDs:

  1. Disorders of the joints, including disc disorders.
  2. Disorders of the muscles used for chewing (masticatory muscles).
  3. Headaches associated with a TMD.

There are several disorders within each class. See diagram below for some examples.

Classification of Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs) with Examples

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*A person may have one or more of these conditions at the same time.

Many TMDs last only a short time and go away on their own. However, in some cases they can become chronic, or long lasting. In addition, TMDs can occur alone or at the same time as other medical conditions such as headaches, back pain, sleep problems, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome.

A recent study found that about 11-12 million adults in the United States had pain in the region of the temporomandibular joint.

Temporomandibular disorders are twice as common in women than in men, especially in women between 35 and 44 years old.

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Causes

Injury to the jaw or temporomandibular joint can lead to some TMDs, but in most cases, the exact cause is not clear. For many people, symptoms seem to start without obvious reason. Recent research suggests a combination of genes, psychological and life stressors, and how someone perceives pain, may play a part in why a TMD starts and whether it will be long lasting.

Because TMDs are more common in women than in men, researchers are exploring whether the differences in TMJ structure and mechanics between females and males may play a role.

Research does not support the belief that a bad bite or orthodontic braces cause TMDs.

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Symptoms

It is important to know that sounds (such as clicking or popping) without pain in the TMJs are common, are considered normal, and don’t need treatment.

However, the following symptoms may signal a TMD:

  • Pain in the chewing muscles and/or jaw joint (most common symptom).
  • Pain that spreads to the face or neck.
  • Jaw stiffness.
  • Limited movement or locking of the jaw.
  • Painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint when opening or closing the mouth.
  • Ringing in the ears, hearing loss, or dizziness.
  • A change in the way the upper and lower teeth fit together.

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Diagnosis

There is no widely accepted, standard test available to diagnose TMDs. Because the exact causes and symptoms are not clear, identifying these disorders can be difficult.

Your doctor or dentist will note your symptoms and take a detailed medical history. He or she will ask questions about your pain, including its location, when it occurs, what makes it better or worse, and if it stays in one area or spreads to other parts of your body. The doctor or dentist will also ask if you have other pain conditions such as headache or back pain.

He or she also will examine your head, neck, face, and jaw for tenderness; jaw clicking or popping; or difficulty with movement. The doctor or dentist might also suggest imaging studies such as an x-ray, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), or computed tomography (CT).

Pain in the mouth, jaw, or face may or may not be related to TMDs. Your doctor or dentist may have to rule out other conditions before diagnosing a TMD.

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Treatment

Before receiving treatment for TMDs, you should know:

  • Sounds without pain in the temporomandibular joints are normal, happen frequently, and do not need treatment.
  • Signs and symptoms of TMD go away in many people without treatment.
  • Because evidence is lacking for the majority of TMD treatments, experts strongly recommend staying away from treatments that cause permanent changes to the jaw joints, teeth, or bite; or that involve surgery.

Nonsurgical Treatments

Because many jaw joint and muscle problems are temporary and do not get worse, simple treatment may be all that is necessary.

When you first feel discomfort in your jaw joints or muscles, your doctor or dentist may have you:

  • Eat soft foods.
  • Apply heat or cold to the face in combination with exercises to gently stretch and strengthen the jaw muscles.
  • Take over-the-counter medications, for example nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), like ibuprofen.
  • Reduce habits such as jaw clenching, gum chewing, or nail biting.

If these steps do not help, or if in the process of trying them your doctor/dentist diagnoses a specific type of TMD, one or more of the following treatments may be recommended.

Physical Therapy

The goal of physical therapy is to maintain, improve, or bring back movement and physical function. There are several types of physical therapy. One type is manual therapy, in which a therapist uses his/her hands to stretch the soft tissues and muscles around the joint. Manual therapy has been shown to help improve function and relieve pain.

Self-management and Behavioral Health Approaches

Self-management refers to activities you can do yourself and include:

  • Learn all you can about your specific type(s) of TMD.
  • Learn meditation & relaxation techniques.
  • Set specific goals related to managing your condition.
  • Stay involved in activities that are meaningful to you.

Certain behavioral health approaches, usually offered by a psychologist, have been shown to help manage TMDs. These include cognitive behavioral therapy and biofeedback.

Cognitive behavioral therapy seeks to identify negative thoughts or thought patterns and change them, as well as provide coping skills.

Biofeedback involves using sensors that monitor breathing, heart rate, muscle contraction, and temperature. For example, a sensor on your jaw can detect when you tighten your jaw muscles. With the help of a therapist, you can learn to notice the unwanted behavior and relax.

Medications

Your doctor or dentist may recommend medication(s) to treat your symptoms.

These include:

  • Over-the-counter medications such as:
    • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to treat pain.
  • Prescription medications such as:
    • Antianxiety medications.
    • Antidepressants.
    • Antiseizure medications.
    • Opioids.

Some of these medications can lead to addiction or have other serious side effects. If you are prescribed any of these medications, make sure your doctor or dentist explains how to take them and for how long.

Intraoral Appliances

Intraoral appliances are devices that fit over the teeth. They do not change the teeth or bite. They are also known as nightguards, splints, stabilization appliances, occlusal splints, interocclusal splints, or bruxism splints.

There is not a lot of evidence they improve TMD pain. If a dentist or doctor suggests you use one:

  • Make sure it is not designed to permanently change your bite.
  • Stop using it and consult your dentist/doctor if it causes pain.

Complementary Treatments

A complementary treatment is a non-mainstream practice used together with conventional medicine. Acupuncture and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) are two complementary treatments that have been studied for TMDs.

Acupuncture is a technique in which practitioners stimulate specific points on the body—most often by inserting thin needles through the skin. There is limited evidence that it helps TMDs.

TENS is a battery-powered device that uses electrodes placed on the skin. The device creates electrical impulses that may change how pain is perceived. Although some studies have shown that TENS may help relieve pain in TMDs and improve the ability to open the mouth, the studies were small with short-duration TENS treatments.

Surgery and Other Medical & Dental Procedures

The treatments discussed in this section are more complex, involve going into the chewing muscles or the temporomandibular joints (with a needle or other instrument), or changing your bite and teeth. More importantly, some of them – like occlusal treatments (see below)— don’t work and may make the problem worse. Before having any of these procedures:

  • Ask about simpler treatments and try those first.
  • Ask the doctor or dentist to explain the procedure—in detail—in a way you can understand.
  • Ask how the procedure will help improve your specific TMD.
  • Ask about the risks.
  • Get second opinions from qualified medical or dental specialists.

Occlusal Treatments

Occlusion refers to how teeth fit together. For years it was thought that misaligned teeth (malocclusion) were a cause of TMDs; however, there is no evidence to support this belief. Occlusal treatments modify the teeth and bite. Examples include:

  • Placing crowns on the teeth.
  • Grinding down the teeth.
  • Using orthodontic treatment(s) to change the position of some or all teeth.

There is no evidence these occlusal treatments work, and they could make the problem worse.

Botulinum Toxin

Botulinum toxin Type A works by relaxing muscles. It is FDA-approved for some medical conditions (like migraines) but not for TMDs. Studies have looked at injecting botulinum toxin Type A into the chewing muscles to reduce muscle spasm and pain. However, the information from these studies is limited and it is not clear whether this medication works to relieve TMD symptoms.

Prolotherapy

Prolotherapy involves injecting a solution into the TMJ area that causes irritation, with the goal of triggering the body to respond by repairing the joint. Prolotherapy has shown promise specifically for TMDs in which the joint is out of its normal position (dislocation) or when the joint goes beyond its normal range of movement (hypermobility). However, there have been only a few small studies on this treatment for TMDs.

Arthrocentesis

In this procedure a needle is used to push liquid into the TMJ. The pressure caused by the liquid removes scar-like tissue (adhesions). In addition, when the liquid is flushed out of the joint, it removes substances that cause inflammation. Arthrocentesis has been shown to help with pain relief and improve mouth opening in people whose temporomandibular disc is out of place; however, these effects do not last long.

Arthroscopy

During arthroscopy the doctor inserts an instrument with a tiny video camera into the jaw joint. The doctor can see the joint, which can help in diagnosis. He or she can also remove adhesions or reposition the joint’s disc. This procedure works moderately well in helping improve pain and function.

Surgery

Open surgery gives access to the temporomandibular joint through a cut (incision) next to the ear. It’s important to know that surgery makes permanent changes to your joint. There are no long-term research studies on the safety of open surgery for TMDs or on how well it works to relieve symptoms.

Surgery should only be considered if:

  • There is destruction of the joint that cannot be fixed with other procedures.
  • There are severe symptoms (pain and/or difficulty opening the mouth), despite trying other treatments.

If your healthcare provider suggests surgery, be sure to ask:

  • Why are you suggesting surgery?
  • Are there other options besides surgery?
  • How will it help me?
  • What are the risks?

TMJ Implants

Implants are artificial devices that are used to replace part of the jaw joint or the entire joint. There are currently three TMJ implants approved by the FDA.

Implants might be considered when:

  • There is an injury to the joint.
  • There is a condition you’re born with (congenital condition) that needs to be repaired.
  • The joint is frozen (ankylosis), commonly caused by injury or infection.
  • There’s severe damage to the joint.
  • There’s ongoing pain.
  • All simpler treatments have been tried and have failed.

Some studies suggest that, when used in very specific cases, TMJ implants can improve function and quality of life. As with any surgery, proceed with caution.

Implants used many years ago (and since taken off the market), did not help patients and left them with severe complications, including permanent damage to the jaw joint(s). Because of this, researchers have called for long-term studies to look at the safety and efficacy of the newer TMJ implants.

Remember: Before any surgery, including implant surgery, it is extremely important to get opinions from more than one doctor and to completely understand the risks. If possible, seek an opinion from a surgeon who specializes in treating TMDs.

Summary of Treatments for Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs)

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Helpful Tips

If you think you have a TMD or are diagnosed with one:

  • Start with simple treatments first; remember that TMD symptoms often go away on their own, without treatment.
  • Consult a dentist or doctor.
  • Learn all you can about the TMD you have.
  • Avoid (when possible) treatments that involve going into or permanently changing the jaw joints, especially surgery or TMJ implants.
  • Understand all the risks when considering surgery or other medical or dental procedures that result in permanent change and seek an opinion from an orofacial pain clinic at a medical or dental school, if possible.

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Additional Resources

  • MedlinePlus: Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
    The NIH National Library of Medicine’s collection of links to government, professional, and non-profit/voluntary organizations with information on temporomandibular disorders.
  • The TMJ Association
    The TMJ Association is a non-profit, patient advocacy organization whose mission is to improve the quality of health care and the lives of everyone affected by temporomandibular disorders.
  • American Chronic Pain Association
    The ACPA offers peer support and education in pain management skills to people with pain, their family and friends, and health care professionals.

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TMJ Disorders – Causes, Signs & Symptoms, Treatment Options | Derby Orthodontics

If you experience ongoing pain in the area near your ear, your jaw or the muscles on the side of your face, possibly accompanied by a clicking or popping sound or restricted jaw movement, you may be suffering from TMD — an abbreviation for Temporomandibular disorders. Sometimes people incorrectly use the term TMJ to refer to these problems, when in fact TMJ is the abbreviation for the temporomandibular joint — or jaw joint — itself. So while you definitely have a TMJ (two of them in fact), you may or may not have TMD.

TMD, then, describes a group of conditions characterized by pain and dysfunction of the TMJ and/or the muscles surrounding it. It’s not always so easy to figure out exactly what’s causing these symptoms, but the good news is that most TMD cases resolve themselves with the help of conservative remedies we will recommend for you to do at home. In fact, it’s important to exhaust all such reversible remedies before moving on to anything irreversible, such as bridgework or surgery.

The two TMJs that connect your lower jaw, the mandible, to the temporal bone of the skull on either side, are actually very complex joints that allow movement in three dimensions. The lower jaw and temporal bone fit together as a ball and socket, with a cushioning disk in between. Large pairs of muscles in the cheeks and temples move the lower jaw. Any of these parts — the disk, the muscles or the joint itself — can become the source of a TMD problem. If you are in pain, or are having difficulty opening or closing your jaw, we will do a thorough examination to try to pinpoint the problem area and suggest appropriate remedies.

Causes of TMD

As with any other joint, the TMJ can be subject to orthopedic problems including inflammation, sore muscles, strained tendons and ligaments, and disk problems. We also know that TMD is influenced by genes, gender (women appear to be more prone to it), and age. Physical and psychological stress can also be a factor. In some cases, jaw pain may be related to a more widespread, pain-inducing medical condition such as fibromyalgia (“fibro” – connective tissues; “myo” – muscle; “algia” – pain).

Signs and Symptoms of TMD

Clicking Sounds — Some people with TMD hear a clicking, popping or grating sound coming from the TMJ when opening or closing the mouth. This is usually caused by a shifting of the disk inside the joint. Someone standing next to you might even be able to hear it. Clicking by itself is actually not a significant symptom because one third of all people have jaw joints that click, studies show. However, if the clicking is accompanied by pain or limited jaw function — the jaw getting “stuck” in an open or closed position, for example — this would indicate TMD.

Muscle Pain — This can be felt in the cheeks (masseter muscles) and temples (temporalis muscles), where the two big pairs of jaw-closing muscles are located. If you feel soreness and stiffness upon waking up in the morning, it’s often related to habits such as clenching and/or grinding the teeth at night. If you have this type of nocturnal habit, we can have a nightguard custom-made for you that should be very helpful in decreasing the force applied to your teeth, which will in turn allow your muscles to relax and relieve pressure on your jaw joints. Other self-care remedies are discussed below (please see Relieving the Pain).

Joint Pain — Pain that’s actually coming from one or both jaw joints technically would be described as arthritis (“arth” – joint; “itis” – inflammation) of the TMJ. When we look at radiographs (x-ray pictures) we find that some people have arthritic-looking TMJs but no symptoms of pain or dysfunction; others have significant symptoms of pain and dysfunction but their joints look normal on radiographs. There is no cure for arthritis anywhere in the body, but medication can sometimes help relieve arthritic symptoms.

Relieving the Pain

Once we examine you, we will come up with a strategy for treating your condition and managing your pain. Sometimes a temporary change to a softer diet can reduce stress on the muscles and joints. Ice and/or moist heat can help relieve soreness and inflammation. Muscles in spasm can also be helped with gentle stretching exercises. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications and muscle relaxants can also provide relief.

Other Treatment Options

Severe TMD cases may require more complex forms of treatment, which might include orthodontics, dental restorations like bridgework, or minor procedures inside the joint such as cortisone injections or lavage (flushing) of the joint. It’s rare for major surgery ever to be necessary in a case of TMD. Again, it’s important to try the wide range of conservative, reversible treatments available, and give them enough time to work as they almost always prove effective. The first step is an examination here at our dental office. We don’t want you to be in pain, so please come in and see us. To learn more about the treatment options available, view our Chart on TMD Therapy

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Jaw joint clicking when opening mouth

Jaw joint clicking is a sign of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) dysfunction. If left unattended, the problem will eventually lead to immobilization and misalignment of the jaw, requiring major surgery. In our Center, the treatment of TMJ pathologies is carried out by experienced specialists using effective non-surgical techniques .

Why does the joint click when the jaw moves

TMJ – paired joints located on both sides of the lower jaw, connecting it with the base of the skull. Each consists of an articular head, a fossa of the temporal bone in which the head is located, an intraarticular disc and a ligamentous apparatus. Normally, when all the elements are in their places, the mouth opens silently.

If one of them is displaced or damaged, the function of the joint is disturbed. The first symptom of TMJ dysfunction is the appearance of clicks during jaw movement.

Causes of the pathology

Concomitant symptoms of TMJ dysfunction

TMJ dysfunction – insidious disease

In case of untimely treatment, it progresses and passes into stages that are not amenable to non-surgical treatment. When the first warning signs appear, we recommend that you immediately consult a doctor to diagnose and correct violations.

Levin Dmitry Valerievich

Chief Physician and Founder of the Doctor Levin Center

What to do with clicks in the jaw, where to go

A gnathologist deals with the treatment of TMJ problems. You can also contact an orthopedist or orthodontist with additional qualifications in practical gnathology.

Gnathology is a branch of dentistry that studies the relationship between the structures of the dentofacial system, their functioning within the normal and pathological limits. The task of the gnatologist is to assess the condition of the teeth, muscles, joints in a complex, restore the correct ratio and coordinated work of the elements of the TMJ.

In some cases, it may be necessary to involve other specialists in the treatment process:

  • orthopedist – if the cause of joint dysfunction lies in improperly installed prostheses;
  • orthodontist – when the pathology arose against the background of malocclusion;
  • neurologist – in case of hypertonicity of masticatory muscles.

Diagnosis of pathology

More than 60 indicators are studied. Main diagnostic methods:

  • Digital impressions and computed tomography of the dentition
  • Bite examination with facebow and articulator
  • TENS diagnostics for masticatory tension
  • Manual-functional examination of posture, symmetry of the shoulder girdle, shoulder blades, etc.

How to treat a joint that clicks

Treatment of TMJ pathologies involves a comprehensive approach and is carried out in a strict sequence:

  1. Reducing the load on the joint with a special removable lining on the teeth – an occlusal splint (splint)
  2. Removal of muscle hypertonicity (if any) using TENS therapy, botulinum therapy
  3. Occlusion correction and, if necessary, prosthetics

In parallel with the main course of treatment, drug therapy is carried out to eliminate degenerative changes:

  • Corticosteroid injections to relieve inflammation in the joint
  • Muscle relaxants for muscle relaxation
  • Analgesics for severe pain

In case of detection of serious morphological changes in the joint, for example, displacement of the intra-articular disc, surgical treatment is indicated.

Methods of treatment

Splint therapy

Splint therapy is a technology that allows you to restore the normal functioning of the TMJ by applying a splint to the dentition – a transparent fixing occlusal splint made of silicone or a non-toxic polymer.

Effect:

  • Muscle activity regulation
  • Shortened ligament sprain
  • Return of the heads of the joint into place
  • Fixation of the physiological position of the jaws

TENS Therapy

TENS Therapy is used when the masticatory muscles are highly active. Provides impact on them by low-frequency microcurrents. The procedure is painless, in the Center it is carried out with a contactless device of the latest generation MIST TENS (Neurotech).

Effect:

  • Relaxation of masticatory muscles, removal of hypertonicity
  • Restoration of normal neuromuscular trajectory
  • Setting a physiologically correct bite
  • Normalization of joints

Botulinum therapy

An effective technique for TMJ pathologies that have developed against the background of bruxism, masticatory muscle hypertonicity. Provides injections of muscle relaxants or neuroproteins in areas of increased activity of muscle fibers.

Effect:

  • Reduced muscle tone
  • Pain relief
  • Correct jaw positioning through muscle relaxation

Occlusion Correction

Indicated in the detection of malocclusion that requires correction for normal functioning of the TMJ. Depending on the type and degree of complexity of the defect, braces or aligners can be used to correct the position of the jaws. Orthodontic course is carried out only after the normalization of the state of the joint. The duration of treatment in each case is determined individually.

Restoration of teeth

In case of destruction or absence of some teeth, restoration or prosthetics is mandatory to normalize the occlusal relationship of the jaws. In case of partial destruction, inlays, crowns, veneers are used. Missing teeth are restored with bridges or dental implants.

Doctor’s recommendations

To increase the effectiveness of the treatment course, we additionally recommend that you adhere to the following rules at home:

  • Perform myogymnastics to relax the masticatory muscles
  • Eliminate foods that are too hard
  • Get rid of bad habits (biting nails, pencils)
  • Do not rest your chin on your hands
  • Fruits and vegetables should not be chewed, but cut into small pieces with a knife

Patients’ Frequently Asked Questions

Why does the joint click after implant placement?

After implantation, clicks in the joint of the lower jaw can be observed if there has been a displacement of the intraarticular discs due to improperly installed implants or prosthetic structures to them. Therefore, it is important to contact experienced implantologists who, when installing implants and prostheses, will take into account the smallest features of the bite and the prospect of normal operation of the TMJ.

Levin Dmitry Valerievich
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, chief physician of the Center

Is it possible to get rid of clicks in the joint with home methods?

Self-treatment without proper diagnosis and adequate therapy is fraught with the loss of time when the problem can be solved without surgery. Compresses, infusions and other folk remedies will not return the joint to its normal position, will not relieve muscle hypertonicity. Therefore, if the joint clicks and hurts, you need to contact a specialist as soon as possible. The sooner the correct treatment is started, the more likely it is to quickly restore the normal functioning of the TMJ without surgery.

Levin Dmitry Valerievich
Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, chief physician of the Center

Levin Dmitry Valerievich

Author of the article. Oral and maxillofacial surgeon, chief physician of the Center

Published: 07/08/2022

Updated: 06/06/2023

Methods for fixing removable dentures

The ease of use of removable dentures is determined by the quality of their manufacture. One of the main points is fixation. The completeness of the restoration of lost functions largely depends on how the structures hold up after installation. Our specialists have extensive experience in removable prosthetics, we create designs in our own dental laboratory of the Center, therefore we bear full responsibility for the result. The use of advanced technologies and the latest materials enables us to create stable, comfortable prostheses of a decent quality level .

The options for fixing dentures in the oral cavity differ depending on the number of missing teeth. For partial teeth, preserved teeth are used, for complete teeth, anatomical formations of the upper and lower jaws are used.

Removable partial dentures fixation methods

A partial denture is used to restore one to several teeth. The design consists of artificial crowns soldered into a basis imitating the gum. The prosthesis is installed on the abutment teeth with the help of fasteners of a certain type.

Clasp system – for lamellar constructions

Partial dentures with a plastic base are fixed on sufficiently strong abutment teeth. The following can be used as fasteners:

Locking and telescopic types of fastening – for clasp

Removable dentures on a metal frame (clasp) can also be fixed on the abutment teeth using hook-clasps. In this case, the fasteners are made only of metal, they are an element of the arch of the prosthesis. This makes them noticeable, especially when located on the incisors or canines.

But when restoring teeth with clasp structures, aesthetics is no less important than functionality, since these prostheses are the most reliable and are designed for long-term use. Therefore, instead of hooks, as a rule, the following are used:

Removable prosthesis can be comfortable !

The comfort of use depends not only on how the prosthesis is attached, but also on the quality of its manufacture. An expensive, properly designed removable denture will restore the beauty of a smile, the ability to chew normally and will last more than 10 years. At the same time, no rubbing, falling out, displacements – complete comfort!

Levin Dmitry Valerievich

Chief physician and founder of the Doctor Levin Center

Attachment of complete removable dentures — due to which they are held in the absence of all teeth

A complete denture imitates the natural jaw. The design consists of an artificial gum (base), for the manufacture of which hard or flexible plastic is used, and a set of crowns.

When fixing prostheses on the edentulous jaw, physical, mechanical and biological factors are taken into account. The main method used in modern orthopedics takes into account all three, forming biomechanical and biophysical types of prosthesis fixation.

In order to keep the structure in the oral cavity, the combined action of factors is used:

  1. Adhesion forces (physical factor)
    Acts when two wet surfaces are joined together. In this case, the prosthesis is wetted by saliva and adheres to the mucous membrane. The quality of adhesion depends on the viscosity of the salivary fluid, but in any case, this factor alone is not enough for reliable fixation.
  2. Valve mechanism (mechanical factor)
    When installing the prosthesis, the edges of its base are tightly connected to the gum, slightly compressing the mucosa. The soft fabric then regains its shape, expelling all the air. As a result, a pressure difference is created, and the basis sticks tightly to the gum.
  3. Anatomical characteristics (biological factor)
    Alveolar processes that protrude in place of former teeth also contribute to the retention of the prosthesis. On the upper jaw, part of the palate is additionally used. But with adentia, bone tissue atrophy progresses rapidly, which reduces the effectiveness of anatomical fixation.

Types of conditionally removable dentures on implants – for a better fit

There is only one way to maximize the comfort of using a removable denture in the absence of all teeth: fix it on implants . At the same time, the design differs in a less voluminous basis, does not overlap the palate on the upper jaw. It does not need to be additionally fixed with gels or creams, since it does not move or fall out.

For reliable fixation in the lower jaw, it is enough to place 2-4 implants. For a looser bone of the upper jaw, 4 supports will be needed. This is the minimum number, for even loading with severe bone atrophy, up to 6 implants may be needed.

Removable Implant Retention Systems Options:

Benefits of Full Denture on Implants :

Mini Implant Dentures

also use reduced models of implants. Such designs are only 1.8-2.4 mm in diameter and 6-10 mm in height. They are installed by puncturing the mucous membranes, without preliminary incisions. But in this case, only push-button fixation of the prosthesis is possible.

Removable prosthesis on mini-implants is installed on the day of surgery. By the evening the patient can chew. The procedure costs less than a standard implant, healing is faster .

But there are also disadvantages. Only a lightweight design can be installed on mini-implants, which cannot be fully loaded and used for a long time. Therefore, fixing on such supports is most often used as as a temporary version of .

Improved physiology can be achieved using the Fixed Prosthetics technology on All-on-4 implants. The All-on-6 and All-on-8 protocols can rightfully be considered the most ideal.

Standards and technologies of our Center

Removable prosthetics can be a worthy alternative to implantation. To achieve this goal, we use special technologies and strictly follow our own quality standards.

Computed tomography – for valid data

Research is carried out on a modern and convenient 3D dental apparatus Galileos (Germany)

  • Obtaining data on the size and density of the jawbone
  • TMJ Examination (Temporomandibular Joints)
  • Assessment of the condition of the teeth on which the prosthesis will be fixed

Functional diagnostics – for correct bite

We work with high-quality articulation systems SAM3, Protar or Amann Girrbach

  • Determination of the correct jaw ratio even in the absence of teeth
  • Customized prosthesis
  • Customized prosthesis

Digital – for precision solutions

We use a photo protocol, intraoral 3D scanning and computer design of orthopedic systems

  • High precision digital impressions
  • Modeling and visualization of the design of the prosthesis

In-house laboratory – for error-free manufacturing

In-house laboratory: for error-free manufacturing

  • Fast communication between orthopaedist and dental technician
  • Elimination of errors and distortion of data in the transmission of information

How to make the perfect removable denture that will stay in place?

The owner of a modern high-quality removable prosthesis eats with pleasure, communicates, smiles.