What is the primary purpose of a dental prosthesis?

The primary purpose of a dental prosthesis is to reconstruct defects such as missing teeth or missing parts of teeth. Dental prostheses, which include dentures, bridges, and crowns, are specifically designed to replace lost or damaged teeth and restore function and appearance. This restoration helps maintain the oral structure, allows proper function during activities like chewing and speaking, and can enhance a patient's self-esteem and facial aesthetics.

While enhancing aesthetics is certainly a benefit of dental prostheses, it is not the sole or primary intention; rather, functional restoration is at the forefront. Supporting soft tissue healing is more related to treatments or procedures rather than the purpose of prostheses themselves. Additionally, orthodontic alignment focuses on correcting the positioning of existing teeth rather than replacing them, which is outside the scope of what dental prosthesis aims to achieve. Thus, the most accurate answer emphasizes the role of dental prostheses in addressing the absence of teeth and restoring normal function and appearance.