Consider implant-supported dentures to restore your missing teeth.

If you have missing or damaged teeth, you have options when it comes to replacing them. Implant-supported dentures is just one option that can improve your smile and provide some additional health benefits that traditional dentures can’t.

Wondering what implant-supported dentures do and how exactly they can restore your smile? Read on to find out!

What are implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures are dentures that are made of either acrylic or a combination of acrylic and porcelain so they can effortlessly blend in with your natural teeth. Implant-supported dentures are securely anchored onto the titanium posts of dental implants using a support bar and attachment clips. 

These dentures are very stable and easy to clean, and are preferred by denture wearers to traditional dentures for that reason. Implant-supported dentures also allow the wearer more lifestyle flexibility because they are a permanent fixture in the mouth and don’t need to be taken out for cleaning or other everyday tasks. Implant-supported dentures also fit the mouth of the user better than regular dentures, which can sometimes take months of adjustments to get a perfect, comfortable fit.

Who is a candidate for dentures, implant-supported or otherwise?

If you have missing teeth, either from gum disease, tooth decay, or an injury, you may be a candidate for dentures or implants.

Not only can dentures replace your missing teeth, but they can also improve your oral health and well-being by making it easier for you to eat or speak. Dentures can also help slow the progression of jawbone deterioration, but over time, your face and profile will begin to sag and appear older as a result of a lack of tooth root stimulation.

While traditional dentures can help improve your lifestyle, implant-supported dentures work more like your real teeth. Because implant-supported dentures are cemented in place with implants that are positioned into the jawbone, they take on the job of your natural tooth roots. This benefits the jaw, muscle, and other mouth tissues because the implants provide stimulation to those areas, whereas traditional dentures don’t because they just sit on the surface of your gums. Because of this stimulation, patients can expect their face shape to stay the same because the supportive tissues, muscles, and bones are still being utilized and stimulated.

What type of dentures are there?

There are many types of dentures available that can help restore the function and appearance of your smile.

Full Dentures 

Full dentures provide a complete set of lifelike teeth. These prosthetic teeth sit in an acrylic base that matches the shade of your gums. Full dentures are removable and are held in place by suction or a dental adhesive.

Partial Dentures 

Partial dentures are used when you are missing a few teeth. They are made of either acrylic or acrylic and porcelain, and are made to look similar to your natural teeth. They are attached with brackets or clips.

Dental Implants

Using titanium posts that are surgically implanted into the jawbone, a dental implant replaces the roots of one or more missing teeth. The posts then anchor a prosthetic tooth, in the form of a dental crown, dental bridge, or implant-supported denture. This treatment option provides results that are natural-looking, secure, and long-lasting.

What is the difference between dentures and implant-supported dentures?

The major difference between dentures and implant-supported dentures is that dentures are removable rather than a permanent fixture in the mouth. Some denture wearers don’t like having to remove their dentures at night, and often find it can take weeks or months and multiple visits to their dentist to get their dentures to fit comfortably. Traditional denture wearers tend to also feel like their dentures aren’t secure in their mouth, and they often worry about eating foods that are sticky or require them to bite into it, like a caramel apple.

Implant-supported dentures, on the other hand, are permanently fixed into the mouth. These dentures require surgery to implant the titanium posts into the jawbone, which is what will support the dental arch. Both dentures and implant-supported dentures are made to look like your natural teeth, and both are made of strong acrylic and/or porcelain materials.

What is the difference between implant-supported dentures and dental implants?

Implant-supported dentures and dental implants start out the same way, with titanium posts being inserted into the jawbone. What makes the two different is that dental implants are usually used to restore one or two teeth, whereas implant-supported dentures tend to restore an entire mouth of teeth with dental arches. While full-arch dental implants are the ideal choice, the number of titanium posts that have to be placed in the jaw may not be feasible, either financially or medically, for many patients. For those who have had long-term tooth loss, their jawbone may have deteriorated too much and they may not be a good candidate for extensive implant placement without bone graft surgery. 

A full evaluation by your dentist is always the first step in deciding which option will work best for you. Talk to your dental provider to discuss the pros and cons of implant-supported dentures, dental implants, and traditional dentures.

Call Dixon, Boles, and Associates to schedule an appointment.

As always, you should consult with your dentist about your oral health. Your dentist in Wilson, NC, can help you decide what kind of dentures are right for you. Give Dixon, Boles, and Associates a call or visit our website to schedule an appointment today!