Dentures Supported By Implants
Implant-supported dentures represent a significant advancement in restorative dentistry. This method of tooth replacement combines the convenience of full dentures and the security of dental implants.
Dental Implants are titanium posts that mimic the foundation set by natural teeth roots. In the case of implant-supported dentures, the implants become anchors. On the one end of implant posts is the stability of bone tissue, which encases the titanium.
On the other end, the implant abutment provides a structure onto which the denture can be placed. This provides a better fit and greater stability than conventional dentures. The dentures are removed once a day for cleaning only; otherwise, they remain in the mouth. Implant-supported dentures provide comfort and stability and improve your oral health and appearance.
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What’s The Difference Between Implant-Supported Dentures And Traditional Dentures?
A traditional upper denture gains stability by covering the entire palate. The problem with this, which many people do not realize until they have received their denture and are wearing it, is that the sense of taste is gone. Your palate provides sensory input.
A traditional lower denture is seated on top of the gums, gaining stability only by fit and suction. Theoretically, when the acrylic arch fits over the gums and bony ridge of the lower mandible, it should naturally stay put. This rarely happens; it often slips or slides out.
With traditional dentures, there may be a lack of nutrition because you may have trouble eating certain foods and chewing properly with the false teeth. We find from talking with our patients that they frequently become isolated and are too embarrassed to leave the house. They rarely smile. Traditional lower dentures are very unstable and known for slipping out of place and even falling completely out when a person is speaking or eating. You may be embarrassed. Understandably, people with traditional lower dentures often do not comply with recommended wear because they are uncomfortable. These same people suffer ongoing bone deterioration related to the lack of stimulation provided by the denture. With implant-supported dentures, you can feel comfortable with your teeth and enjoy going to dinner with friends.
Benefits Of Implant-Supported Dentures
- Bone preservation is provided by ongoing stimulation through implant posts
- The integrity of the facial structure is supported by continuous bone regeneration
- No denture adhesive is necessary
- No pressure spots and sores caused by unstable fixtures
- Helps you to speak more clearly
- Being able to chew restores your ability to enjoy a varied diet
- Better nutrition
Risks of Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures can provide many patients with an effective solution for tooth loss. However, as with any dental procedure, there are risks you need to be aware of. Having a keen understanding of these risks is critical to the procedure's success.
These risks include the following:
- Surgical risks - To insert the implants into your mouth, you must have oral surgery. Complications with this procedure are rare, but they can still occur.
- Implant failure - Dental implants generally have a high success rate. However, there is a slight chance the implant fails to integrate into your mouth. An implant must fuse with the bone when inserted into a patient's mouth, which is called osseointegration. Some factors can contribute to implant failure, such as poor bone quality, smoking, and certain health conditions.
- Bone loss - In rare cases, bone loss may occur around your dental implants. This condition, peri-implantitis, can cause gum inflammation, infection, and bone loss. Patients must practice good oral health care at home to prevent peri-implantitis.
- Commitment - Another potential risk of getting dental implants is the commitment necessary from the patient. You have to be ready.
- Complications with sinuses- If implants are installed in your upper jaw, your sinus cavity may be at risk.
- Complications with the soft tissue - The success of implant-supported dentures heavily relies on the health of your gum tissue. That is why your dental hygiene appointment is so important. And you must keep to your recommended appointment schedule.
- Having a systemic health problem - The chances of a complication occurring can increase drastically if you have a systemic health problem. These problems include diabetes, a compromised immune system, cancer, hypothyroidism, and hypertension. Dr. Slepchik will assess your medical history during your appointment with him.
Although these risks require careful consideration, implant-supported dentures are effective in helping people restore functions to their mouths. Being transparent about your medical history during your appointment with Dr. Slepchik is essential. Alternatively, if you are not a suitable candidate for implant-supported dentures, Dr. Slepchik can offer you other options.
Implant Supported Partial Dentures
Implant-supported partial dentures are a reasonably affordable option for patients wearing partial dentures to improve their quality of life and ability to chew. Two implants are necessary (one on each side of the mouth). Once the implants are healed following your surgery, Dr. Slepchik uses the Novaloc system to attach your partial denture to the implants. An insert on the undersurface of the partial denture is used to snap into the Novaloc, which is attached to each implant.
No clasps are necessary (clasps are metal bars that wrap around natural teeth with regular partial dentures). Your partial denture is removed twice daily for cleaning purposes.
Implant Supported Before & After
Candidates For Implant-Supported Dentures
Patients who need tooth replacement or would like to upgrade from traditional dentures to implant-supported dentures are good candidates. The jawbone's condition is one of the most important aspects of dental implant success. Dental X-rays and a thorough exam will help us confirm if a patient has sufficient bone density in their natural teeth to hold the implant posts that stabilize the denture. If substantial bone deterioration has occurred, bone grafting may be performed to build up a sufficient foundation for implants.
In addition to bone quality, Dr. Slepchik also evaluates the health of your natural teeth and general health. He does this to confirm the absence of conditions that may present risks to the integration of implant posts into the jawbone (osseointegration).
The Implant-Supported Denture Procedure
Diagnostic Stage: As with all dental treatments, we complete a full assessment of facial features, bone structure, skin tone, etc. This helps us determine how many implants are necessary and how to redesign the smile best. We also perform a complete oral examination, including digital X-rays. The final result must always look natural and highlight your face.
Surgical Stage: During this stage, we remove the existing teeth, if necessary. After the extraction procedure, two to four implants are placed after a specific healing period.
Restorative Stage: Your denture is made using the retention supplied by the implants. The denture snaps into place when it is ready.
Upper Supported Partial Denture On 2 Implants
Upper And Lower Implant-Supported Dentures
What Recovery Is Involved For Denture Placement?
Implant-supported dentures are far different from traditional dentures. As we mentioned, two stages are involved in actively restoring oral function. After the implants are inserted into the jawbone, bone tissue will begin to grow around them. This phase of recovery can take several weeks. However, patients can resume normal activities within a day or two after this stage of treatment. Patients can manage any mild discomfort with over-the-counter, pain-relieving medication. Dr. Slepchik may recommend a soft-food diet for a short period of time to support the most efficient and rapid integration of implants into the jawbone. Once the bone stabilizes implant posts, the full denture can easily be snapped into place, and full chewing function will be possible.
How To Care For Your Implant-Supported Dentures
Just like natural teeth need daily cleaning, so do implant-supported dentures. Patients must remove their dentures once daily to clean them thoroughly, as demonstrated by our hygiene staff. Please get in touch with our office if you have any questions about properly cleaning your implant-supported denture. We are happy to help you.
In addition to cleaning the denture itself, daily hygiene around implants and gum tissue is critical to long-term oral health. Finally, maintain a consistent schedule with dental checkups and professional cleanings. These visits enable us to monitor gum and bone health and periodically evaluate the integrity of your implants using digital X-ray imaging.
Do Implant-Supported Dentures Have To Be Removed At Night?
Dr. Slepchik also places permanent implant-supported dentures. These are attached to the implants with screws and are removed by Dr. Slepchik during your dental cleanings and exams. You need to clean these implant-supported dentures every night at home exactly as you would your natural teeth.
What Are The Differences Between Traditional Dentures And Implant-Supported Dentures?
Traditional dentures and implant-supported dentures both consist of full arches of artificial teeth. Their anchoring, or lack thereof, is the big difference.
Traditional dentures replace the upper and lower natural teeth. The upper arch suctions to the roof of the mouth, while the lower arch rests on the gums to allow room for the tongue. The problem with both methods is that the dentures often slip. This usually happens when eating, but it can happen while speaking and in other embarrassing circumstances.
Traditional dentures create a loss of taste due to the upper denture covering some or most of the palate on the roof of the mouth. People assume their tongue provides all of their sense of taste, but the palate also plays an important role. Traditional dentures don’t give any energy downward into the jawbone when biting or chewing. This is unlike natural teeth or dental implants, where the energy in biting and chewing (known as bite force energy) transfers down through the teeth/implants into the jawbone beneath the tooth/implant. This energy triggers the jawbone to continually shed old cells and replace them with new bone cells. This is how the jawbone stays healthy and strong. Traditional dentures don’t provide this, and that’s why people who’ve had dentures for a long time (or who have been missing teeth for a long time) can appear as if their jawbone is collapsing backward. It actually is.
When you support the complete arch of artificial teeth with dental implants, this is an entirely different situation. The implants anchor the denture through screw-down posts, and this gives the denture its incredible stability. These dentures cannot slip because they are anchored securely into the upper and lower jaws through the implants.
It usually takes four to six implants on each arch for implant-supported dentures, and these anchor locations help keep the jawbone strong. That’s because the bite force energy travels down through the implants into the bone beneath, just as it does with natural teeth.
Also, because implant-supported dentures deliver that energy into the jawbone, the jawbone will not shrink. This means you won’t have to get an implant-supported denture relined, as you do with traditional dentures every year or so (this is because your jawbone is losing mass under these dentures).
How Many Implants Are Needed For Implant-Supported Dentures?
It varies depending on the patient’s existing jawbone and differences in the upper and lower arches. If possible, the best support is provided by four to six dental implants on the upper arch and four dental implants on the lower arch.
Patient Lost All His Natural Teeth
Can Just Two Implants Support An Upper Arch?
Be careful if you are suggested to have fewer implants. This will not be successful for you. This makes them more likely to loosen within the jawbone and cause the restoration to fail.
How Long Do Implant-Supported Dentures Usually Last?
Implant-supported dentures are made up of two parts: the implants themselves and the prosthesis that is supported by those implants.
The full-arch prosthesis is like a bridge or other restoration, and it has a lifespan. These are susceptible to wear and damage from daily chewing and biting. These dental restorations are composed of durable materials, but they may need replacement at some point.
With proper care and good oral hygiene, the prosthesis that is attached to your anchoring implants should last at least 10-15 years. When this needs replacement, creating a new prosthesis is easy.
As for the eight or 12 implants (for both arches), they should remain firmly in place as a part of your jawbone for the remainder of your life.
Is The Process For Having An Implant-Supported Denture Painful?
Dr. Slepchik works very closely with a dental surgeon who specializes in dental implant surgery. There is some minor discomfort as these small incisions heal, but it only lasts a few days. We suggest a soft diet for a few days.
Once your jawbone has fully grown around the implants, Dr. Slepchik will then attach the posts to your implants. At this point, he may also attach the prostheses or want to allow the gum tissue to grow around the post. This has some minor discomfort for a few days, but nothing that isn’t easily managed with over-the-counter pain medication.
All in all, patients are amazed at how easy and relatively pain-free these procedures are.
Schedule A Consultation
Your quality of life is priceless. Implant-supported dentures offer benefits that make everyday living more manageable and more pleasant. Would you like more information about improving your smile? Would you like to have your denture permanently placed in your mouth without ever slipping out? Please contact our dental practice.
Call us at 514-875-7971 or email us at reception@smilesbydrslepchik.com to schedule a consultation with Dr. Lenny Slepchik. We will be happy to hear from you. We are located in Downtown Montreal, next to the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth Hotel, across from Place Ville Marie, Metro McGill, or Metro Bonaventure. We hope to meet you soon.