Implants With Dentures
Great Hope for an old problem
There are 4 kinds of implant-supported dentures:
- Implant-retained dentures Locks into place, but you may unlock it for removal
- Implant bar supported dentures Snaps securely onto a bar or other device
- Fixed crown and bridge Screwed into place
- Implant-retained partial dentures Locks into place, but you may unlock it for removal
Dental Titanium implants may be utilized in a variety of manners to stabilize an existing denture, to support a new denture, or to replace a denture all together.
In the lower arch, two to four implants are placed which utilize newer types of attachments to either retrofit to and stabilize a denture you already have, or to support a new denture. The result is a significant increase in comfort and function due to vastly improved denture stability.
A denture may also be eliminated completely and replaced with a fixed bridge which you do not remove from your mouth. Such an approach requires placement of four to six implants.
In the upper arch, two to four implants are utilized to stabilize an existing denture or to support a new denture. If four to six implants are placed, the new appliance which is fabricated has no material covering the roof of your mouth, and is as stable as natural teeth under function.
Advantages to implant placement
- An added advantage to implant placement in either the upper or lower jaw is that the presence of implants helps to preserve the bone around them, thus halting the continuing bone loss which is encountered beneath full dentures.
- The stability of the dentures will improve dramatically with dental implants, where the dentures will snap on the implants that help securing the dentures with out any additional adhesive materials.
- Most of the time the denture could be made smaller and less bulky (Horse shoe shape) instead of a full coverage to the palate, it is the closest to natural teeth and the feeling of your food.
The procedures for implant placement have been greatly simplified as the field has developed. In many instances, implants may be placed without the need for stitches. When stitches are required, simple dissolving stitches are utilized.
Finally, even in situations where dentures have been worn for quite a long time, and significant bone loss has occurred beneath the dentures, simple procedures are utilized to regrow your lost bone without having to take bone from another part of your body. These procedures are performed with only “Novocaine”, and once again require only a few dissolving stitches.
