What Are Implant-Supported Dentures
Modern dentistry allows dentists to provide some excellent treatment options for patients who need dental restorations! Dentures are a great way for patients to restore one or both arches if they are missing a significant number of teeth. There are a few different types of dentures including traditional dentures, partial dentures, implant-supported dentures at Karmazin Dental, and implant-retained dentures.
Traditional dentures are what most people think of when they hear the word “denture”. The removable kind that are held in place using suction and a denture adhesive. Implant dentures can be either removable, as is the case with implant retained dentures, or fixed such as implant-supported dentures.
How do implant-supported dentures work?
An implant-supported denture is held in place using dental implants onto which the denture is screwed down or cemented into place on the implants. This type of denture is significantly more stable and secure than a traditional denture which can slip around in the patient's mouth causing irritation and sores on the gum tissue, making the denture painful to wear.
An implant-supported denture is securely fixed in place and cannot slip around in the mouth. This type of denture cannot be removed by the patient for oral hygiene or sleeping, it must be removed by a dentist. Implant-supported dentures can be a full or partial denture. 4 to 8 implants per arch are placed to support a full denture. An implant-supported full denture is called an “all-on-four” (or six or eight, depending on how many implants are placed).
For a partial denture, one or two implants are placed directly into the jawbone and the partial denture is secured onto the implants. A partial works to replace a few teeth in one area of the mouth. A traditional partial denture is held in place using metal or acrylic clasps or even cement to attach to healthy neighboring teeth but an implant-supported partial does not negatively affect neighboring teeth.
Oral Hygiene and Implant Supported Dentures
It is important to brush your denture with a soft bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive toothpaste at least twice a day to remove food particles and to stimulate blood flow to the gum tissue. A WaterPik can be a useful tool for cleaning under your denture whereas regular floss may be more challenging to thread through. It is important to continue seeing your dentist for regular professional cleanings at least three or four times a year. At your cleaning, your dentist will remove the denture so the hygienist can clean each implant.
A traditional denture can last up to 10 years but will likely need to be adjusted every so often. An implant-supported denture has the added advantage of the implants which stimulate bone regeneration and can be a healthier option. Dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care and maintenance so only the denture itself may need to be replaced at some point due to normal wear and tear or if it becomes damaged.
