As dental technology has progressed, removable dentures are no longer ideal for replacing a full arch of missing teeth. Implant-supported dentures and All-On-Four dentures have become a more ideal standard for many reasons. Dr. Leah Butler discusses why she recommends implant-supported dentures in her Strongsville, OH dentist office.
What are implant-supported dentures?
A downside to removable dentures is that they require adhesives to stay in your mouth. These can be messy and don’t always work the best. Implant-supported dentures are fixed instead of removable. Instead of using adhesive to stay in the mouth, the dentures are connected to dental implants that have been placed in the jawbone.
All-On-Four dentures are a specific type of implant-supported dentures. Dental implants are placed in strategic points in the jaw. They allow you to have a full denture supported by the fewest number of implants possible. Advanced treatment planning is used to make sure you can get your implants and dentures all in one visit.
Benefits of implant-supported dentures
There are many benefits to getting implant-supported dentures over the traditional kind. For starters, you never have to worry about them slipping or falling out. They’re permanently placed in the mouth and adhesive isn’t something that’s needed. They give you back more of your bite function as well. You don’t have to worry about limiting your diet because your dentures can’t handle the food.
Implant-supported dentures also provide benefits for your jawbone and facial structure. When you lose teeth, your jawbone starts to deteriorate. With removable dentures, this deterioration continues to occur over time, even with your restoration. Dental implants put a stop to this deterioration because they replace the tooth root. They spur jawbone regeneration as the implant post fuses with the jawbone.
Implant-supported dentures last longer than traditional ones as well. Because of jawbone deterioration, removable dentures have to be replaced or readjusted over time. This isn’t a problem when dentures are implant-supported. They’re a permanent solution to replace your missing teeth.
Getting implant-supported dentures
The process for implant-supported dentures differs depending on if they’re All-On-Four. All-On-Four dentures involve getting the fewest number of dental implants possible to support the denture. Advanced treatment planning is utilized to find the best place to put the implants. You’re then able to get the implants and fixed dentures in one day!
For more traditional implant-supported dentures, Dr. Butler will determine the ideal number of implants for you. The titanium implant posts are placed in the jaw and do require around 3-6 months to heal and fuse with the jawbone. Impressions are taken when you’re healed and used to make a permanent denture. A temporary denture will be given to you until your permanent one can be made in the lab.
Are you missing a full arch of your natural teeth? Implant-supported dentures can be the tooth replacement solution for you. Call us or schedule an appointment online to get started.