Replacing Multiple Teeth? Consider Implant-Supported Dentures
by Christy Long
If you are missing most of your teeth, you want to look into restorative dental options. You may want to consider dental implants. A dental implant is a small titanium screw that can be surgically placed into your jawbone. Implants have connectors above the gumline which hold screw-retained or cement-retained prosthetic tooth.
While minor surgery is required to insert the implants, they have many great benefits. They have high success rates; they look natural; they are permanent restorations; and, they help to maintain the density of your jaw bone. The main downside is that a single implant can cost thousands of dollars. So, if you are missing a lot of teeth, then you may think that implants aren't a viable option for your budget. However, one way to save on costs is by looking at implant-supported dentures.
What are Implant-Supported Dentures?
As the name suggests, implant-supported dentures are dentures that rest on implants. With this prosthetic, you don't need a single implant for each tooth. Instead, you would only need about four implants, which would then lock into a full denture. Because you don't need an implant for every single tooth, this route can be much more affordable.
What are some Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures?
One problem with regular dentures is uneven retention. Traditional dentures are held in place by denture adhesive and closely fitting to gum tissue. Some patients don't feel like their dentures will stay in place, or they may feel uncomfortable with the fit.
With implant-supported dentures, you eliminate uneven retention. Implant-supported dentures lock into place. The implants will have stud-attachments that match up with the dentures. When you put in your dentures, they click into place on the implant connectors and are very sturdy.
Another benefit of implant-supported dentures is that they prevent bone resorption. Bone resorption is a process where bone density shrinks. Why does this happen in patients with missing teeth? Well, since there are no teeth in your jaw's tooth sockets, your body assumes that it doesn't need to maintain bone in that area to support teeth, so it resorbs the bone tissue.
Resorption makes it harder to support prostheses, and resorbed jaw bone can give your face a hollowed-out appearance. While implants aren't a cure-all for resorption, they can help to slow and prevent further bone loss since they imitate tooth roots and encourage the body to maintain bone density.
Ask your dentist about implant-supported dentures so that you can enjoy the benefits of implants and save on the overall cost.
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About Me
I was very unhappy with the way that my front teeth looked. They were crooked and stained with an ugly yellow tint. I asked my dentist if there was anything that could be done to improve them. After discussing the options with my dentist, I decided to have crowns put on my front teeth. The procedure was painless and I wish that I had done it sooner. My name is Constance Graham and I am writing this blog to inform others about cosmetic dentistry. If you don’t like the way your teeth look, speak to your dentist about improving your smile. There are various cosmetic procedures that you can have done such as veneers, crowns, teeth whitening, and dental implants. I hope you use the information in this blog to learn more about cosmetic dentistry and how it can help you.