Dental Implants Existing Partial
Are you someone who has already transitioned to partial or full dentures? Do you already deal with denture adhesive and gum sores from your dentures moving in your mouth? Are you sensitive to the clicking noise when you speak? Can you eat your favorite foods and enjoy fresh produce or is a diet of soft foods something you have had to adjust to? Are you concerned about the long term effects from using denture adhesive regularly? If you have full or partial dentures, then you probably answered yes to more than one of these questions. But you may have an alternative.
Talk to the dentist about the potential of using dental implants to provide a secure way to attach your dentures in your mouth. The dentist may be able to use a few strategically placed dental implants to keep your dentures securely in place without having to use dental adhesive or worry about problems eating or talking. Dental implants can offer numerous other benefits over wearing dentures alone.
After a consultation with the dentist, they will be able to use an x-ray to review the health of your jaw bone and determine the best locations for your dental implants. The dentist will need to review your medical history, your dental history, your history of infections, your ability to heal, your current medications, and any chronic medical conditions that may affect your ability to heal from your surgery. Once these factors have been taken into consideration and your jaw bone is healthy enough to support multiple implants, the dentist can schedule the surgery.
During the surgery the dentist will drill holes into your jaw bone where the screw shaped implant post will be placed. The post will be made of titanium or zirconia and it will heal with your bone over the next three to six month. The bone and post will fuse together resulting in a sturdy base for your dentures. The dentist will then attach an abutment to the top of the post where the denture will connect to the implant. The dentist may even be able to make adjustments to your current dentures to work with the implants. If the dentist is not able to make those alterations, then you will have a new denture fabricated that will snap on to the abutment freeing you from denture paste for good.
One of the biggest benefits of combining partial dentures with dental implants is that the procedure and combination is completely customizable. The dentist will work with you based on your needs and expectations to create the best results. Before you can move ahead with the addition of dental implants, you will need to have at least one consultation appointment with the dentist.
Dentures and Implants Work Together
When you have had multiple teeth that needed to be replaced, you turned to dentures or a partial denture to restore your complete smile. But over time, your jaw bone will lose density and removing the dentures every night will cause a change in the shape of your mouth and cheeks over time. Eventually, your gums will change enough that your dentures will need to be adjusted or replaced to fit properly.
If your partial dentures are for your lower jaw, then you already know that is where dentures can be particularly unstable. Dental implants are often used for the lower jaw, but can be used on both jaws for your full or partial dentures. The dentist will typically place the dental implants towards the front of your mouth where you are more likely to have denser bone than at the back of your mouth. After your first week with your implants supported dentures you will quickly notice all the advantages. Here are a few to consider if you are not convinced dental implants can help you yet:
Stability
Your dentures will be secured in place with dental implants that do not move. Your dentures will not shift while you eat or talk.
Improved Confidence
You can smile, eat, talk, and just live your life without worrying that your partial denture will come loose at any time. Some of the changes you have made in your day that have prevented you from engaging can become a thing of the past.
Simplicity
You do not have to endure multiple procedures that would come with replacing individual teeth with dental implants. You can continue to care for your dentures as you have in the past and do not need to complicate your dental care routine.
Enhanced Functionality
When your dentures are secure in place, you will be able to bite down on your food and chew more thoroughly which will improve your digestion overall. Your bite will have more force and you will be able to include more whole foods in your diet offering you improved nutrition.
Problems with Dentures
If you already have a partial denture or a full set of dentures, then you already know some of the struggles that are now common for you. Additionally, if your denture is for your lower jaw, then you know that it can be more problematic than your top jaw. If you do not have dentures yet but you are talking to the dentist about tooth replacement options for multiple teeth, then the dentist may be able to prevent you from having some of the issues that come with dentures alone. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) says that if dentures have been properly fit and maintained, then they do not need any denture adhesive but that is not always the case for most people. When dental implants are added to dentures, then the dentures are held in place even better than any of the best fitting or strongest adhesives available.
Finally, with the dental implants in place, then the jaw bone will have the even distribution of pressure and the continued stimulation preventing bone loss and degradation. If the jaw bone does not have tooth roots, then the body starts to resorb the bone because it is not actively used. Dental implants can help you keep healthier and stronger jaw bones as compared to dentures alone.