Missing teeth can be distressing since they negatively impact chewing, speech, and oral appearance. Fortunately, with advanced technology, there are several teeth replacement solutions, one such popular method is implant-supported dentures.
The dentist in Easton, MA, and their team are committed to offering teeth replacement solutions to patients in the form of implant-supported dentures. This helps restore your oral form, function, and aesthetics.
What is an implant-supported denture?
Implant-supported dentures are advanced restorations that replace several missing teeth at once. Unlike conventional dentures, these prosthetics are directly attached to your jawbone using dental implants, instead of resting over your gums.
There are two types of implant-supported dentures, namely:
- Removable implant-supported dentures: These snap onto the dental implant and can be removed whenever required.
- Fixed implant-supported dentures: These dentures are permanently fixed to your jawbone and cannot be removed.
| Dental implants: These are artificial devices, surgically inserted into your jawbone that mimic your missing tooth roots. These screw-like posts stimulate your jawbone, thereby preventing its resorption. Implants offer excellent support and anchorage for permanent restorations like crowns, bridges, and dentures. |
Are you an ideal candidate for implant-supported dentures?
Your dentist will evaluate your oral health and determine if implant-supported dentures are the right choice for you. To be an ideal candidate you must meet certain prerequisites.
You should:
- Have sufficient bone density and volume
- Have healthy gums
- Be an adult with a fully developed jawbone
- Be patient, and willing to undergo a tedious process that may be time-consuming, and costly
Suppose you do not have sufficient bone thickness. In that case, your dentist may recommend bone grafting (using a graft and placing it in the bone-deficient areas to stimulate new bone growth) initially before getting an implant-supported denture.
How is an implant-supported denture fabricated?
For an implant-supported denture, your dentist will:
- Extract any remaining tooth remnants near the edentulous space.
- Make an incision (cut) on the gums, to raise a flap that helps expose your jawbone.
- Drill a tiny hole in the bone, and insert the implant post. It usually takes 4 to 6 months for the implant to fuse with the bone. Meanwhile, you will be provided with healing dentures.
- Record oral impressions of your arches, and send them to the lab for crafting your new dentures.
- Attach the customized dentures to your implants once the bone heals.
Tooth loss can negatively impact your self-esteem and quality of life due to compromised function, and poor aesthetics. But thanks to implant-supported dentures, you can restore oral form, function, and aesthetics for a long-lasting, beautiful smile.
