If you are missing teeth entirely on the top or bottom row or both, you are most likely to consider a set of dentures. While the traditional dentures sit on the gums and are held in place with the help of adhesives, patients nowadays can expect to have a more secure and comfortable fit using implant-supported dentures.
Getting dentures can be the only solution if most of your teeth are missing. Traditional dentures, while relatively inexpensive, are held together by adhesives. Patients can feel the prosthetic teeth sliding around the mouth, leading to challenges in speaking or eating naturally. They can also be bulky, irritable, and painful to the gums.
A modern advancement to traditional dentures is implant-retained dentures, which offer a more comfortable, secure fit than traditional dentures.
What are implant-retained dentures?
Implant-retained dentures, sometimes called overdentures, are a hybrid between the traditional removable dentures and the implant supported dentures and offer great denture alternatives. They are essentially removable dentures held in place using a few implants. Implant-retained dentures are suitable for full or partial tooth replacement.
These dentures are surprisingly affordable, easy to use, and comfortable to wear. They can be fixed for safety and comfort and taken out at the end of the day, letting you enjoy the best of both worlds. And they can replace both upper and lower teeth.
Unlike older denture constructions, implant-retained dentures reduce the gag reflex by not having anything brushing against the soft palate (the roof of the mouth). Secured by dental implants, the denture is held in place while eating or talking, which keeps them stable.
How do implant-retained dentures work?
Implant-retained dentures are half-moon shaped appliances that can be used on the upper and bottom arches. They use a few implants to snap securely in place, providing comfort and safety to the patients.
Studies show that implant-retained dentures are just as effective in providing patients comfort and safety as implant support dentures.
What to expect when installing implant-retained dentures
A dental implant is usually an outpatient surgery requiring several appointments. It includes an initial consultation, an appointment to place the implant, and another to attach new teeth.
- First, your La Cruces Dental Solutions dentist will obtain an X-ray of your teeth structure and discuss with you the implant options. After checking your overall health, they will schedule the implant surgery.
- The dental implant procedure would be performed in our office by a skilled team of professionals trained in restorative dental surgery.
- Post-surgery, you might experience some bruising and pain, for which your dentist might recommend over-the-counter painkillers.
- You can have soft, cold food and warm soups while healing from the surgery.
- To keep your implant in place, you need to practice the same kind of dental care for your dentures, like regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups.
Benefits of Implant-Retained Dentures
The advantages of implant-retained dentures are as follows:
- They offer a secure fit. Unlike traditional dentures, dental implants with dentures secure the tooth with a few implants providing safety and comfort. The implants attach the dentures directly to the gums and act as a natural root in your teeth. It prevents accidental slippage and feels natural and comfortable.
- They are painless. As the dentures are fixed in place using implants, they prevent rubbing of dentures against the gum preventing sores and inflammation, causing less pain in the process.
- They enable clarity in speech. Implant-retained dentures are slimmer than the traditional ones and fit in your mouth using the snap-in feature. They do not have an acrylic portion pressing against the roof of your mouth, giving you more comfort and a clearer speech pattern.
- They give better tasting abilities. The dentures provide better support and do not have an acrylic base above the upper palate, allowing you to enjoy and taste your food better.
- They provide a better aesthetic appearance. The dental implants are anchored to the jawbone and do not rest on your gum line, supporting your mouth and tooth structure, helping to enhance the natural appearance of your smile.
- They stop bone loss. The implants act as tooth roots and support the jawbone, preventing it from deteriorating over time.
- They can diminish or eliminate the need for bone grafts. With implant-retained dentures, the need for bone grafts or soft tissue regeneration is diminished or eliminated, which isn’t always the case with implant supported dentures.
- They are removable. Unlike implant supported dentures, they can be removed at night, helping you clean them easily.
- They are an affordable denture alternative. Implant-retained dentures are an improved form of removable dentures and are pretty inexpensive compared to their implant supported counterparts.
At La Cruces Dental Solutions, we offer revolutionary modern restoration and cosmetic dentistry solutions for all family members.
We can make dentures more secure through implant-retained dentures. We use 3-D computer-guided printing technology to complete your dental implant process in-house.
Contact our advanced team to find out if you are a candidate for implant-supported dentures. To request an appointment, please call 575-305-7584 or send us a message here.
