Denture Implants
Dentures scare many people because they remember their grandparents having difficulty speaking without whistling. They may even have seen glasses of water with teeth floating in them. But losing your teeth and living without replacements isn’t an option. You want to stay active, enjoy socializing and eat your favorite foods. Denture implants provide an exceptional option whether you’ve lost all your upper teeth, all your lower teeth or all your teeth. Talk to your dentist about denture implants and how they could change your life.
The popularity of implant dentures are on the rise as more people recognize their significant benefits. According to Authority Dental: “Once you get replacement teeth, you’ll be more comfortable, confident and have an overall better quality of life. With teeth, speaking is easier, smiling is a joy, and eating is no problem. Denture implants are especially beneficial because you don’t have to deal with messy adhesives or ugly clasps.”
There are several reasons for the loss of your teeth. Too much sugar in your diet can accumulate, causing cavities, plaque and gum disease. Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption are activities that deteriorate your teeth all over. Regular dental checkups and cleanings from your family dentist at Albany County Dental Associates help you maintain good healthy teeth and gums. And when you do need tooth replacement, you’ve already built a relationship with your family dentist who also practices cosmetic dentistry.
Advantages of Denture Implants
When you lose teeth, it isn’t just the physical aspect that you lose. Your smile and laugh, your eating habits and your sense of confidence all change. But the biggest blow is probably to the jaw bone that actually shrinks 25 percent in the first year alone. Your dentist can tell you if you’re a suitable candidate to get implant dentures, also called implant overdenture.
It’s possible that your insurance pays for 10 percent of the overdenture cost. In addition, choosing dental implants for dentures gives you many other advantages, such as:
- The ability to eat a wide variety of food, including raw fruits and vegetables
- Aid in better nutrients absorption
- Being able to chew food properly
- Decreased food digestion complaints
- Improvement in speech
- Preservation of your jaw bone
- Stimulated growth in your jaw bone
- Comfort compared to wearing conventional dentures
- Less gum irritation
Getting Dental Implants for Dentures
You need to undergo a complete dental examination, which includes checking your bone density. Then your dentist asks you about your dental health and any medications you’re currently taking. Remember to mention any health issues you have, like a heart condition, diabetes, cancer or high blood pressure.
The experts at Colgate report that: “During the exam, the dentist reviews your medical and dental histories, takes x-rays and creates impressions of your teeth and gums so that models can be made. In some cases, the dentist may order a computed tomography (CT) scan of your mouth. This shows where your sinuses (located above your upper teeth) and nerves are. It allows the dentist to make sure they won’t be affected by the implant placement. A CT scan also may be done to see how much bone is available and to determine the best locations for the implants.”
How Dental Implants for Dentures Work
Implants are titanium screws, usually 3mm to 6mm in diameter, and they look like the tooth root. To get your dentures, you have to go through two dental surgeries. The first involves placing the implant into your gums and jaw bone. The second includes attaching the abutment on which the dentures sit.
It takes somewhere between three to six months for your teeth and bone to recover from the surgery. The goal is to have the gums and bones fuse to the titanium screws, holding the implants in place. You need to keep going to the dentist for checkups during this time.
Types of Implant Overdenture
To resemble your natural teeth, overdenture has an acrylic pink part for the gums with either acrylic or porcelain teeth. Four to six implant screws are strategically inserted. This helps offset the pressure when you bite or chew food.
The overdenture cost depends on the type of attachment, which may include:
- Bar-retained, in which a metal bar curves around your jawline, connecting all the implants. Attachment clips help secure the overdenture to the top of the bar.
- Ball-retained, when both the implants and denture connect using press-on buttons.
- Fixed, a one-piece implant overdenture that’s screwed directly to the implants.
Aftercare for Your Implant Overdenture
Denture implants can last for 25 years or more, especially when you adopt a proper oral hygiene routine. Your dentist will give you many tips on how to correctly brush your new teeth. Flossing is also an important part of this hygiene routine.
You also need to go for regular dental appointments. Your Albany County dentist needs to check on your dentures, as well as the implants underneath, to make sure everything is all right. Keeping your dentures and implants healthy helps you enjoy your new smile for many years to come.
