Stomatognathic system changes in partial edentulism and rehabilitation with fixed prosthetic solutions

Introduction:
The stomatognathic system functions as an integrated unit, maintaining harmony between the teeth and surrounding structures, whereby the loss of one or more natural teeth disrupts this balance, triggering a series of changes that can affect the entire system. The aim of this paper is to analyze the state of edentulism, the changes in the stomatognathic system, and their rehabilitation, and to document the different types of fixed prosthetic devices, their fabrication processes, material compositions, and whether they are traditional or modern constructions.
Materials and methods:
Examinations and analyses were conducted on a specific group of patients treated at a private dental practice in collaboration with a private dental laboratory in Skopje. A total of 116 fixed prosthetic constructions were fabricated, which were divided into two groups: Group 1 – conventionally made constructions and Group 2 – digitally made constructions. All respondents in this paper were categorized according to age, gender, type of construction, and the materials used for fabrication.
Results:
The majority of respondents were aged 30-60, with 67 patients (55%) receiving 72 fixed restorations (59%) in the upper jaw and 44 (36%) in the lower jaw, indicating a higher number of restorations in the upper jaw. Of the 116 restorations, 51,7% were metal-ceramic and 43,1% were all-ceramic restorations.
Conclusion:
The theoretical knowledge from professional literature and the analyses presented in this paper are based on the fact that the production of fixed prosthetic constructions today is more standardized, sophisticated, and precise, allowing for shorter production times and significantly higher quality in the final construction.