Fixed and Removable Implant Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures are a more stable and secure option for replacing your teeth and restoring your smile. Implant-supported dentures blend the best parts of dental implants and dentures, producing a foundation for many teeth to be placed at once.
If you have lost all of your teeth on your upper jaw, lower jaw, or both, dentures can give you your teeth back. However, conventional dentures are not perfect. Because they rest on the gums, they might not be very secure, particularly lower dentures, and you might be limited to eating more soft foods than you’d like.
Implant-retained dentures provide denture wearers with an improved quality of life and dental health. They provide superior performance and usability as they are anchored to the jaw, rather than resting on the gums. Implant-retained dentures function like natural teeth and provide up to 100% chewing function, while complete conventional dentures provide about 15% compared to natural teeth
Common Questions About Fixed and Removable Implant Supported Dentures
- Denture is permanently affixed to the implants, only to be removed by your dentist
- Usually require more implants as they require greater stabilization
- Acrylic can be removed from the palatal area creating a more natural feel and an improved ability to taste
- Provides greater chewing efficiency than conventional dentures
- Usually only removed yearly by your dentist to check the integrity of the denture and implants, as well as to clean the denture
- Denture snaps onto attachments on each implant
- Usually fewer implants required
- Acrylic can be removed from the palatal area creating a more natural feel and an improved ability to taste
- Provides greater chewing efficiency than conventional dentures
- Can be removed which allows for easier maintenance and cleaning
- Because there are a few methods of placing dental implants based on the patient’s age, supporting jawbone structure, dental health and unique situation, the placement procedure and the healing time will vary from person to person.
- Depending on the patient’s condition, an immediate functioning temporary denture may be placed following surgery.
- During your initial consultation, Dr. Faiella will evaluate your dental condition as well as discuss your individual expectations and treatment options. She will then refer you to an oral surgeon who will closely evaluate the condition of the bone for implant placement.
- Together you, Dr. Faiella, and the oral surgeon will decide the best course of action based on your unique situation.
- Regardless of the type of denture you choose (fixed or removable) and whether the denture can be immediately attached to the implants or not, the first denture you will receive will be a temporary denture. After a period of healing, usually around 3-6 months, during which your bone and gums will recontour and the implants will fuse to the bone, a permanent denture can be fabricated. Depending on the type of denture this will take several appointments to complete.
Implant-Supported Dentures vs. Conventional Dentures
Conventional dentures require maintenance, including refitting and replacement, as your gums and bone shrink over time. Because dental implants help to preserve your gum and bone mass, they offer a more permanent solution for replacing your teeth. Implant-supported dentures are also more stable, helping to prevent the denture from slipping and potentially breaking while functioning
Most conventional denture wearers experience discomfort at some point in time. As your gums and bone receded over time, your denture may become loose and cause irritation and mouth sores. Patients may experience issues when eating as your chewing ability diminishes significantly. Your ability to taste will also be affected because your palate is covered by the denture. Dental implants help to preserve the bone and gum tissue, so that the denture will not loosen over time. They can help to fully restore the biting and chewing forces that you had with natural teeth. Because of the added stability and retention provided by the implants, the acrylic in the area of the palate can be removed, allowing for a better ability to taste and greater comfort.
Conventional dentures have a tendency to slip and move during functioning, which can have a significant impact on a person’s ability to speak and chew. Implant-supported dentures are more stable and retentive, allowing you to function as you did with natural teeth.
Conventional dentures can be fabricated quickly and do not require any of the surgery or components associated with implants. For these reasons, they can be more cost effective than the implant-supported dentures. However, over the lifetime of the denture, most patients require periodic adjustments and experience additional costs as they need to refit or remake the dentures. Dental implants and implant-supported dentures are a major investment, in both cost and time, however this is often offset by your improved quality of life and dental health. Often there are very few, if any, maintenance costs associated with implant supported dentures, as they can help to preserve the bone and gum tissues.
Dental Treatments
