What Are Implant Retained Dentures?
Implant-retained dentures are dental prosthetics, supported by dental implants, that replace an entire row of teeth. Relying on surgically implanted dental implant posts for stability, implant-retained dentures offer stability and security that isn’t normally found in traditional dentures, which can slip and rub against the oral tissues and interfere with comfortable eating and confident speaking, and smiling. To understand the benefits implant retained dentures provide, it’s helpful to have some knowledge about the potential drawbacks of traditional dentures, as well as understanding the ins and outs of dental implants.
What Are Dental Implants?
Dental implants are tiny posts, often made of titanium, that are surgically implanted in the jawbone, usually in the spot where a healthy tooth root once lived. Once the bone that surrounds and supports these implant posts has healed, the posts are used to support one of a variety of dental prosthetics. When they were first introduced, dental implants were often used in a one-to-one arrangement, with a single dental implant supporting a single prosthetic crown, much like a tooth root supports a single tooth. In more recent years, as implant technology has improved, it’s become more and more common for dentists to use a few strategically placed dental implants to support multiple missing teeth, as is the case with implant-retained dentures. Because dental implants fuse with the bone that surrounds them over the course of healing, restorations that rely on dental implants provide long-lasting stability, and they also provide the added benefit of stimulating the continued vitality of healthy bone in the jaw.
How Do Implant Retained Dentures Work?
Traditional dentures are designed to slip into and out of the mouth, where they replace an entire row of missing teeth. These appliances rely on the natural curvature of the oral cavity for support, resting on the gums, soft tissue, and underlying bone, secured in place with denture adhesive. Because of their removable design and imprecise fit, it’s common for traditional dentures to slip, rub, or even fall out of the mouth, leading to discomfort, pain, and embarrassment. While it’s easier to chew with traditional dentures than it is with no teeth at all, it can still be uncomfortable. Implant-retained dentures are similar to traditional dentures, with one key difference: because they are supported by dental implant posts, they won’t slip while you’re eating, and they will remain securely in place throughout life’s smiles and conversations. Because the entire denture can snap onto and off of dental implant attachments, it’s easy to clean the denture and also easy to clean the implant sites and oral tissues. Designed to last a lifetime, dental implants offer security and stability while improving the health of the jaw. Using as few as two or four dental implants, dentists are able to create durable implant-retained dentures that rely on a few implants to support an entire row of teeth.
How Do I Know if Implant Retained Dentures Are Right For Me?
Dentists most often recommend implant-retained dentures for patients who are missing all of their upper or lower teeth, or both. In order for dental implants to succeed, patients should still have a fair amount of robust, healthy bone in their jaw, and a thorough dental examination that includes x-rays is a key part of planning. If bone loss is significant, your dentist may recommend bone grafts before implants can be placed. Once the bone has been replenished, the restoration is designed, and implants are placed. Implants take time to fuse to bone, just as bone takes time to grow where grafted. After the implants have healed, attachment abutments are affixed, and the snap-on denture is ready to go. The timeline for placing implant-retained dentures, including possible grafts and necessary healing, can be lengthy, but for many wearers, this time investment is well worth the lifelike feel, stability, and comfort of implant-retained dentures.