Implant Dentures Carrollton
Say Goodbye to Irritating Dentures!
Teeth may be relatively small, but they play a big part in our everyday lives. Missing even just one tooth can take a significant toll on your oral health and your confidence. Unfortunately, missing all your teeth on your upper or lower arch (or both) can be exponentially worse! Traditionally, the only way to treat such significant tooth loss was with regular dentures. While these classic restorations are quick, effective, and convenient, they have their drawbacks. If you are ready to say goodbye to slipping, irritating, and frustrating dentures, come talk to us about implant dentures in Carrollton!
What Are Implant Dentures?
While traditional dentures are certainly better than going without an entire arch of teeth, they only replace the crowns of missing teeth, not the roots. Without this important structure, dentures can only restore about 20% of your natural biting power and can slip or pop out of place. Over time, they will no longer fit properly and as a result, need to be replaced. To improve the stability and longevity of a denture, we can anchor it into place with dental implants.
These small titanium posts are placed into specific areas of the jawbone, where they fuse with the bone and gum tissues to recreate the missing tooth roots. Once fastened on top of these dental implants, a denture will look, feel, and function almost exactly like your natural smile!
There are two main types of implant dentures:
Fixed/Permanent Implant Dentures
As their name indicates, these dentures are permanently attached to the implants that support them (they can only be removed by a dental professional). In many ways, fixed dentures can be treated just like natural teeth. They do require significant jawbone density because it usually takes 4 – 6 or more implants per arch to support a fixed denture.
Removable Implant Dentures
If you have lost some bone density in your jaw, you might consider removable implant dentures, which can typically be supported with just 2 – 5 posts. These prosthetics easily snap onto and off of the implants that support them, so you can easily clean and maintain them. In some cases, it is even possible to retrofit a regular denture to work as a removable implant denture.
The Implant Denture Procedure
If you decide that implant dentures are the right treatment option to repair your smile, we’ll complete the process over several phases:
- First, we’ll need to prepare your smile by removing any damaged teeth and correcting issues like gum disease. You might also need a bone or gum graft to ensure your mouth can successfully support dental implants.
- Then, you’ll undergo minor surgery right in our office to have your dental implants placed. Once they are in position, you’ll need to wait three to six months before we can affix your denture. During this time, the dental implants will fuse with your jawbone and soft tissues.
- Once your implants fully integrate with the surrounding tissue, you’ll return to our office to have your custom-made denture placed.
Am I a Candidate for Implant Dentures?
You might be a candidate for implant dentures if:
- You have lost all or most of your teeth throughout one of your dental arches.
- Your jawbone is strong enough to support dental implants.
- You are free of active gum disease.
- You are in fair overall health.
Our team will carefully evaluate your candidacy. Most patients can qualify for implant dentures, either right away or after some preliminary care.
Benefits of Combining Dentures & Dental Implants
Some of the most outstanding benefits of implant dentures include:
- You are likely to regain 70% or more of your chewing ability, meaning you can consume a nutritious, varied diet. You will even be able to eat foods that are off-limits with regular dentures.
- In addition to the increased stability, an implant denture has the potential to last for several decades, which is much longer than the lifespan of a traditional denture (about 5-10 years).
- Dental implants preserve the jawbone. In contrast, regular dentures may actually accelerate bone loss.
- Implant dentures look and feel remarkably natural. In fact, other people may have no idea that your teeth are prosthetic!