Dental Implants Existing Partial

Dental implants can be used to stabilize existing dentures, increasing their comfort and utility. These improvements help people maintain a healthier diet and enjoy their food more, and they enhance the facial appearance and appearance of the smile, helping people feel better about themselves. Traditional dentures are worn on top of the gums, where they slowly apply pressure to the gum tissue and bone. When the jawbone doesn’t have natural tooth roots in it, it deteriorates over time; these issues cause dentures to become ill-fitting and uncomfortable, interfering even more with comfortable speaking and healthy eating. When dental implants are used to support dentures and hold them in the mouth, the fit, comfort, and performance of the dentures increase exponentially.

Dentures are made from impressions of the mouth and are designed to replace multiple missing teeth. Dentures can be partial, replacing a few teeth, or full, replacing all the teeth in the upper or lower row. Full dentures are supported by a base that fits into the mouth; for upper dentures, the base nestles into the roof of the mouth, and for lower dentures, the base is shaped like an arc and accommodates the tongue. Partial dentures use a framework that is held in place by the natural teeth and are similar to a dental bridge, except that they are removable, while dental bridges are permanently attached.

Dental implants are tiny cylinders made of medical-grade material, usually titanium, that are surgically placed into the jawbone where the root of a natural tooth once was. As the bone heals around the dental implant, the implant and bone fuse together, and the implant becomes an enduring part of the jaw. Once the implant site has fully healed, the dental implant can be used to support a prosthetic tooth or even multiple prosthetic teeth. Dental implants can also be used to support dentures and hold them securely in the mouth. Removable dentures tend to be less stable when they’re used to replace the lower teeth, and implant-retained dentures are particularly useful for the lower jaw for this reason, though they can be used in both the upper and lower jaws. Because there is more bone in the front of the mouth than toward the back of the jaw, implants are usually placed in the front of the mouth. In some cases, as few as two dental implants can support an entire row of teeth, combining the endurance and strength of dental implants with the simplicity and affordability of dentures that won’t slip while you’re talking or rub when you chew.

Using dental implants to support dentures improves the appearance and the utility of the mouth, and they help maintain the shape and integrity of the jaw. This occurs because the forces of biting and chewing are correctly and evenly distributed into the bone, which exercises the bone and helps keep it healthy. When there are no tooth roots or dental implants in the jaw to stimulate its health, the body perceives the bone as useless and reabsorbs the tissue for other uses. This is why people with no teeth, either with or without dentures, may appear to have a sunken lower face or seem unusually old. While removable dentures require regular fit adjustment, dental implants are considered a permanent solution and often last 25 years or longer with the proper care. Dental implants have exceedingly high success rates of around 98 percent, and this success relies in large part on the patient’s attention to healing and oral hygiene. Implant-retained dentures can be brushed and cleaned while still in the mouth, and your dentist can clean under the appliance during your regular professional cleanings. The qualifications and skill of the implant surgeon also play a part in the long-term success of dental implants, so make sure to work with a reputable oral surgeon and a trusted dental implant team. While some general dentists can place dental implants, implants placed by general dentists have a higher rate of failure than those placed by oral surgery specialists.

Not everyone is a good candidate for dental implants, though auxiliary procedures can help prepare a person for dental implants over a period of time. At the time of the surgery, the patient should be in good overall health. For patients with certain medical conditions that slow or impede healing, like diabetes and other inflammatory conditions, the condition will need to be well-managed before implants can safely be placed. If a patient has active gum disease, the gum disease is treated before implants are placed, and the patient must demonstrate an overall ability and intention to maintain the health of the oral cavity. This might include adherence to a smoking-cessation program and instruction in proper oral care, and when advanced gum disease has led to bone loss, bone graft surgeries may be necessary for implants to be safely placed. In many cases, however, when fewer implants are used to support entire dentures, good oral surgeons are able to rely on available existing bone to strategically place implants for optimal stability.

The traditional dental implant treatment, in which a single dental implant supports a single dental crown, creates a dental prosthetic that looks and acts just like a natural tooth. This one-to-one restoration treatment may be manageable and affordable when a single tooth needs replacing, but it gets prohibitively invasive and expensive when patients want to replace multiple missing teeth in this manner. Because implant-retained dentures rely on fewer implants, the cost comes down significantly, but dental implants should always be thought of as an investment in both oral health and overall health. The risks associated with dental implants include the minimal chance of error in implant placement, but the majority of the risks arise because of improper aftercare and insufficient oral hygiene, factors the patient can directly control.

The procedure for placing implant-retained dentures is entirely customizable, and your treatment plan will factor in your budget, your preferences, and your clinical needs. Whenever possible, the patient’s existing denture is modified to attach to newly healed dental implants, though new, custom dentures can also be used if the denture can’t be modified or if you’d simply prefer a new denture. During your initial consultation, your dentist will evaluate your current denture and review your complete medical history to determine whether you and your denture are good candidates for a dental implant treatment. You could be on your way to a more comfortable, confident smile and a healthier future.