In the early 1900s, it was commonly thought that patients with missing teeth could not be given fixed partial dentures. However, with advances in technology and knowledge, this practice has now become common. To understand if fixed teeth can be given in a reduced mouth opening, we need to first understand what fixed teeth are and why they are given in a reduced mouth opening. Fixed teeth are essentially permanent replacement teeth that cannot be removed.
This means that they are cemented on as opposed to being connected by a chain or other removable fastener. These teeth cannot be removed before going to bed and must remain securely in place all day until they’re replaced again the next day. That is why fixed teeth have reduced openings to allow for greater retention of these artificial replacements for our natural back molars. So yes, fixed teeth can be given in a reduced mouth opening.
What is a mouth opening?
It refers to the distance between the upper and lower teeth when the mouth is opened as wide as possible. It is measured from the uppermost point of one tooth to the lowermost point of the adjacent tooth. You can also use a ruler placed between your upper and lower teeth to get an approximate measurement of the opening. The upper teeth are measured from the front edge of the central incisor (the tooth in the middle of the upper lip) to the back edge of the incisal edge of the last molar (the last tooth in the upper jaw). Similarly, the lower teeth are measured from the front edge of the central incisor to the back edge of the incisal edge of the last molar.
Why fixed teeth in reduced mouth opening?
This is due to the fact that the mouth opening is not large enough to allow for maximum retention of the replacement teeth. This is particularly so for back teeth. The normal mouth opening for this region is approximately 10 mm but for back teeth, the opening is reduced to 8 mm or less. This is because the back teeth are more movable compared to the front teeth, which are more fixed. Since the back teeth are more movable, they need to be stabilized by a reduced mouth opening to prevent them from moving out of position. Hence, fixed teeth are given in a reduced opening to achieve greater retention.
Can fixed teeth be given in smaller opening?
Yes, fixed teeth can be given in a smaller opening. This is usually done for the incisors (front teeth) and the premolars (upper teeth). For these teeth, the mouth opening is usually the same as the adjacent teeth for better aesthetics.
8 mm or less is ideal. The size of the mouth opening depends on the type of posterior teeth given (i.e. upper or lower teeth). In general, the opening for lower teeth is smaller compared to the upper teeth.
Lower fixed teeth – The usual size of the mouth opening is 6 mm.
Upper fixed teeth – The usual size of the mouth opening is 10 mm.
Can natural teeth be retained while giving fixed teeth in a reduced opening?
Yes, natural teeth can be retained while giving fixed teeth in a reduced opening. This can be done by reducing the arch length or by increasing the width of the denture teeth. While reducing the arch length of the denture, the upper and lower teeth are brought closer together to reduce the opening. Alternatively, when increasing the width of the denture teeth, the teeth are moved apart, increasing the mouth opening.
For example, for a patient with an upper fixed partial denture with a 10 mm mouth opening, we can reduce the arch length of the denture to 8 mm. This brings the upper teeth closer together and reduces the mouth opening. Alternatively, we can increase the width of the upper denture teeth to 12 mm. This brings the upper teeth apart and increases the mouth opening.
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