Fixed or removable dental prostheses?
The first fork in the road – and it is often set by the findings, not by the wish.
Most people would rather have something fixed. That is understandable, and where it works it is also the more pleasant way. But it does not always work.
What speaks for fixed
It feels closer to your own tooth, needs no getting used to when speaking, and nothing can slip while eating. No palate is covered, tasting stays unchanged.
What speaks for removable
Cheaper. Easier to clean – you can see what you are doing. Extendable if another tooth is lost later. And possible where fixed fails on bone or abutments.
Where the findings decide
If many teeth are missing spread across the jaw, there is no bridge that spans that. If the rear neighbour is missing, the second abutment is missing. If there is too little bone, implants without a graft are ruled out. Then removable is not second choice but the only one that carries.