Albertville, AL
Significant tooth loss means that someone has lost most or all of the permanent teeth in their mouth. The American College of Prosthodontists estimates that 40 million people in the United States have lost all their natural teeth, a number that includes 30% of individuals between the ages of 65 and 74. For patients who have lost all their teeth or all the teeth on their upper or lower arch, dentures are usually the preferred solution. Today, dental practices operating at the forefront of the field like Wall Street Dentistry can provide patients with implant supported dentures. These dentures look and function more like natural teeth and have greater stability. Today on the blog, we take a look at some facts you should know about this method of tooth replacement.
What are implant supported dentures?
Also known as implant dentures, these dentures are anchored in your mouth by a set of dental implants. Your dentist places each implant at a strategically chosen location to provide maximum support for the dentures, and leave a small portion of the implant above the gum line. Unlike standard dentures, which are made to rest on your gum line and bonded in place with an adhesive, implant supported dentures are made to connect to the implants, via an abutment that is placed on the top of every implant.
The benefits of implant supported dentures
- Stability: Since they are attached to dental implants, implant dentures will not slip or shift in your mouth. They remain fixed in place until you’re ready to remove them to be cleaned. It also means you do not need to work with denture adhesives, which can be messy and ineffective.
- Strength: Because of their enhanced security, implant supported dentures allow you to regain a higher amount of your chewing ability. That means you have more food choice and will be less self-conscious about gathering with friends and family for meals.
- Durability: No set of dentures is permanent, but implant supported dentures will last longer than any other type of dentures.
- Prevents bone loss: Implants encourage the growth of new bone. Over time, even if you replace your missing teeth, your jawbone will deteriorate because of the absence of constant stimulation that came from the root of the lost tooth. For someone who has lost multiple teeth, this bone loss is accelerated. Dental implants represent the only dental treatment that can provide similar stimulation, as the titanium implant screws replace the tooth root.
- Improved speech: Patients who receive standard dentures often report speech problems or an apparent speed impediment when wearing their dentures. For individuals who receive implant supported dentures, such issues are reported with much less frequency.
How we work with implant supported dentures
First, you’ll meet with one of our dentists at our office in Albertville for a consultation to make sure you’re a good candidate for implant dentures. Then, a member of our staff will capture digital images of your teeth and mouth, which are used as a guide to fabricate your dentures from top-quality materials. We will construct your replacement teeth to match the look, shape, and shade of any remaining natural teeth, as well as the color of your gum line. Your implant supported dentures should maintain, or even improve, the alignment of your bite. Next, the dental implants themselves are placed in your mouth. Once the implant screws fuse with your jawbone, you can receive your replacement teeth.
How do you maintain implant supported dentures?
Any set of dentures needs to be removed from the mouth to be cleaned; implant supported dentures are no exception and should be cleaned daily.
A good regimen of care includes the following:
- To prevent your dentures breaking, place a towel in the sink or fill your sink with water.
- Brush your dentures thoroughly, like you would real teeth. Make sure to only use a product recommended by your dentist, as certain types of toothpaste are too abrasive for your dentures and can harm them.
- Never sleep in your dentures and, when you are not wearing them, store them in a cleaning solution to prevent them from drying out.
- See your dentist every six months, as recommended by the American Dental Association, for a check-up.
What makes someone a good candidate for implant supported dentures?
You need to have enough remaining bone density to support the dental implants and be in good oral health. If you have gum disease, Wall Street Dentistry would provide periodontal treatment to manage that infection before beginning work on any procedure involving dental implants.
The best way to determine if implant supported dentures are right for you is to schedule a consultation with Wall Street Dentistry. To do so, contact us online or call our office in Albertville at (256) 878-0525.