Unlike conventional dentures, which rest on your gums and are held in place with dental adhesive, implanted supported dentures are anchored in place with titanium implant posts that allow the denture to snap into place for stability.
Unlike conventional dentures, which rest on your gums and are held in place with dental adhesive, implanted supported dentures are anchored in place with titanium implant posts that allow the denture to snap into place for stability. Implant supported dentures are designed for you if you are have become frustrated with the common issues associated with traditional dentures, such as the slipping and shifting, restricted diets, and regular discomfort.
Implant Dentistry and Periodontics will help you with your decision when it comes to considering implant supported dentures. We offer a diverse range of important periodontal and dental implant services to help everyone. Our thoughtful staff work together on a team goal of providing you with the best quality service for your overall oral health. We will approach your dental issues in a peaceful, quiet environment, and address your dental care as an important partner on your health care team. If you would like to have an evaluation about the potential of implant supported dentures to improve your life, call our Indianapolis office at 317-574-0600 or our Fishers office at 317-842-2273 to schedule your appointment today.
How Do Implant Supported Dentures Actually Work?
An implant supported denture will have special clips that snap onto attachments on the implant post extensions. Implant supported dentures are often suggested for the lower jaw because standard dentures tend to be far less stable on this arch. Most often a regular denture made to fit an upper jaw is more stable on its own and does not need the extra stability provided by implants. Implant Dentistry and Periodontics can evaluate your situation and suggest whether an implant-supported denture is best for you in either the upper or lower jaw.
We offer two types of implant supported dentures: One that is bar-retained and the other ball-retained. With both frameworks, the final denture will be made of an acrylic tray that will look like your gums. Customized porcelain or acrylic artificial crowns that look like natural teeth are then attached to the base. Both types must have at least two implants for the necessary support.
The Bar-retained dentures — A very thin metal bar which is designed to follow the curve of your jaw is attached to two to five implants that have been surgically placed in your jawbone. Clips are then fitted to the bar, to the denture or to both. Your final denture fits perfectly over the bar and is secured in place by the clips.
The Ball-retained dentures (stud-attachment dentures) — Each implant post placed in the jawbone matches up perfectly with nylon snaps on the backside or underside of the denture tray. The attachments on the implant posts are ball-shaped, male attachments, and they fit into nylon sockets, female attachments, on the denture.
The Implant Supported Denture Procedure
The actual process of having implant supported dentures placed will take some patient on your behalf. We will begin with your initial evaluation, where Implant Dentistry and Periodontics will review both your medical and dental history, perform a complete oral examination, capture x-rays and the necessary scans to determine if implant supported dentures will be right for you.
After this has been determined, we will then perform a complete examination of your jawbone to ensure that the bone has the structural integrity to support an implant. If you are indeed a candidate for this procedure, the next step will be administering a local anesthetic to adequately numb your soft tissue prior to surgically placing the titanium posts into your jawbone. Titanium is used because it is the only metal that naturally integrates with the bone.
After the placement of the implant posts, you will need several months or possibly longer to allow the titanium posts to integrate or grow with your jawbone. During this healing process, we will provide a temporary set of dentures, which we will customize for your mouth. When we have determined the posts are stable, we will surgically add abutments or extension to the posts. After allowing the gums to heal for two weeks, we can finally place you permanent your implant supported dentures that have been custom fabricated in a dental lab.
At Implant Dentistry and Periodontics, we offer a wide range of periodontal and dental implant services. Our caring and compassionate team has one collective priority and that is your smile.
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Proper Care for You Implant Supported Dentures
Just like your natural teeth, it is especially important that you maintain good daily cleaning habits. It is important that you consistently clean the appliance, clean around the gums, artificial teeth, and the attachments. In addition to practicing consistent good self-care at home, it is also important that you continue scheduling regular preventative appointments every six months. During these routine checkups, Implant Dentistry and Periodontics will compliment your work by conducting deep cleanings and to monitor the overall state of your oral health, catching any issues before they develop. We will also always check your implants and take x-rays when needed to ensure that your attachments, abutments, and implants are still positioned correctly.
Are You a Candidate for Implant Supported Dentures?
Implant Dentistry and Periodontics has found that implant supported dentures can be an appropriate option for a wide range of patients. There really is no age restriction for you if you wish to have this procedure performed, although there are issues to address if you have significant health issues, such as a heart problem, which could create a complication with the surgical aspects required to perform this procedure. Implant supported dentures may also not be appropriate if you have insufficient jawbone density. If you do not have enough jawbone density all is not lost, we can discuss whether a bone graft is a possibility for you.
Earning your Trust with High Quality Periodontal Care
When you schedule an appointment with our conscientious team at Implant Dentistry and Periodontics, you will be impressed with the level of our professionalism and that we are a caring team that has the most advanced dental technology at our disposal in our clinic. We are thorough and thoughtful because we understand exactly how unique and different each patient is. We take our time working on your personalized treatments, to ensure success that works for your desires and budget. We work hard to establish value back into your undervalued personal asset, your smile, so every dental procedure we perform for you is with only your best interests and oral health in mind.
At Implant Dentistry and Periodontics, we offer a calming environment, and we want you to be confident in our abilities and services. Scheduling an appointment for a potential implant supported denture procedure is an important step towards being proactive in your oral health and regaining your healthy smile. To schedule an appointment, call our Indianapolis office, 8801 North Meridian St., Ste 103, Indianapolis, at 317-574-0600 or our Fishers office, 9885 E. 116th St, Ste 300, Fishers, at 317-842-2273.