Permanent Dentures
Implant supported dentures or permanent dentures are replacement teeth that are held in place on the jaw bone. Permanent dentures are not removable like traditional dentures so they should feel and work like your natural teeth. You no longer have to worry about your dentures sliding around while eating, shifting while talking, or even falling out when you smile. With your dentures being fixed in place, you do not have to worry about losing them either. When most people hear the word dentures, they think of full mouth tooth replacement, but they may just take the place of a few missing teeth.
Who Should Get Denture Implants?
For your implants to successfully remain in place and support the dentures, you need to have a healthy jaw bone. Your jaw must be strong and dense enough for the dental implants to have long term success. Ideally, you need to be in good overall health so you are strong enough to heal from surgery and are unlikely to have an infection. You will need to have good oral hygiene habits to help ensure a healthy recovery after the procedure. People who are candidates for dentures needing more than one tooth replaced due to tooth loss or damage are good candidates for permanent dentures.
Benefits of Permanent Dentures
Denture options were first available around 700BC and the materials have been updated over time. It is an outdated option for tooth replacement but when it is combined with dental implants, the modern approach eliminates some of the old, long standing issues with traditional dentures. The following advantages should make permanent dentures more and more attractive as an option for your tooth replacement treatment plan.
Goodbye Pain
Denture pain is part of the day to day experience with dentures. The pain can result from a poor fit, gum irritation, and even mouth sores. Permanent dentures eliminate that pain with the ideal fit and lack of movement.
No Dangerous Ingredients
Traditional dentures require adhesives to keep them in place on your gums. Not only does the gel or paste have a bad taste, but it can contain zinc. The FDA warns about zinc build up in your body that can lead to nerve damage in your hands and feet.
Better Facial Support
When you take your dentures in and out of your mouth, the lack of teeth eliminates the support they provide to your face shape. The resulting wrinkles, witch’s chin and marionette lines around the mouth can be avoided with permanent dentures that stay in place like your natural teeth. The prevention of slack skin that comes with traditional dentures can leave you feeling younger and more confident.
Eat and Enjoy
Permanent dentures do not have to make you change the way you eat or the foods in your diet. You will be able to chew without issue whenever you want; no need to find your dentures before your snack. Crunchy, chewy foods will not loosen your dentures and you can chew your food properly for each bite. Proper chewing improves digestion and overall health benefits from good digestion.
Denture Implants Procedure
The dental implants used to support the permanent dentures will require surgery for proper placement. Depending on your implant needs and the health of your jaw bone, the dentist may need to complete more than one procedure to ensure your mouth is ready for permanent dentures. Be sure to talk to the dentist about your comfort level and your anesthesia preferences, you should be able to avoid pain during the procedures.
The first step is removing the damaged or compromised teeth, if they are still in your mouth.
Then, depending on the health of your jaw bone, the dentist may need to perform a bone graft to ensure the implant’s long term success. Your mouth may need a few months to properly heal from this procedure.
Next, the dentist will place the implanted posts into your jaw bone. The posts will have attachments on the top of them just above the gum line where the dentures will attach to the implants.
Finally, the dentist will place the dentures to restore you to a complete, fully functional smile.
Full Dentures - Are There Different Types?
Permanent dentures. Fixed dentures. Non-removable dentures. There are many names for this advancement in tooth replacement but they are all full rows of prosthetic teeth that are held in place by dental implants. The dentist strategically places the implants in your jaw bone at specific places to ensure that the dentures are supported and functional. These are not your grandparents' dentures that slid around while eating, talking and smiling.
Before the dentist can help you determine if permanent dentures are the best treatment plan for you, the dentist will need to perform a full exam. The dentist will obtain a full jaw scan to determine the optimal locations for the dental implants. Usually there are four implants on each jaw, two in the back and two in the front. After the implants have healed from the surgery, the dentures can be secured in place.
Dental implants and permanent dentures are not perfect replacements for your missing teeth, but they are the best options and definitely the most popular among dentists and patients. Here are the main advantages:
The Advantages of Permanent Dentures
- Fewer number of implants needed as compared to individual tooth replacement
- Lower maintenance than traditional dentures
- More even pressure when biting and chewing
- Improved chewing and biting
- Clearer diction when speaking
- Long lasting
- Continued facial structure support, minimizing slack skin
- Improved fit over regular dentures with precise customization
- Shorter surgery and shorter healing time as compared to multiple dental implants
What are the Considerations for Wearing Dentures?
While dental implants are safe and low risk, it is still a surgery. Anytime your body is operated on, you run the risk of inflammation, infection and complicated healing. Depending on your medical history, you may need more time to ensure the long term success of your dental implants and permanent dentures. Permanent dentures do cost more than traditional dentures but the additional cost may be small as compared to all the benefits from them.