Prostheses are artificial “replacement parts” for joints or other body parts that are missing or unable to function adequately. There is a distinction between exoprostheses and endoprostheses:
- Exoprostheses are arm or leg prostheses, for example. They are attached externally, for example after amputations or in cases of malformations of limbs such as arms, legs, fingers or toes.
- Endoprostheses include hip or knee prostheses. They are used in cases of joint disease or damage inside the body.
Dental prostheses (dentures) replace missing teeth and can be removed and reinserted by the patients themselves. Depending on whether some or all of the teeth in a jaw are replaced, they are referred to as partial, total or full dentures. They can also be combined with fixed dentures.