HOW LONG DO IMPLANT SUPPORTED DENTURES LAST?

It turns out that your natural teeth have not lasted as long as you need them to so you are looking to have more than one replaced with dentures.  And with the advancements in dentistry, dentures no longer need to rely on suction with the gum line to remain in place in your mouth.  Dentures can be secured into place by surgically implanted support posts.  But before you spend money on dentures and then more money on the implant operations, it is important to collect all the facts about your treatment plan options.  If you are going to make the investment in your health, specifically your oral health, how long can you count on this investment lasting?

Denture implants & dentures are 2 different things

Keep in mind that dentures and implant supported dentures are two separate pieces to your tooth replacement treatment.  Traditional dentures replace missing teeth and rely on suction to the gumline to remain in place.  Over time, the gumline recedes and the jawbone can deteriorate due to the lack of teeth causing you to have to replace the dentures every 5 to 10 years.  The new dentures will fit the changed bone shape better than the older, looser ones.  Replacing dentures repeatedly will definitely add to the overall cost and may end up costing more over time than the dental implant supported dentures will.

When the dentures are held in place by surgically implanted posts, the dentures will not need to be resized or reshaped.  The titanium posts can help prevent bone loss or degeneration as the pressure from biting and chewing help keeps the bone strong.  Even though implants are newer technology, dentists continue to study the technique and the best applications.  In most cases when dental implants are not successful, the dentist starts to see rejection or serious complications within a year.  In the same studies, most patients with successful implants at 10 and 15 years continue to have successful implants at 20 years.

Even more exciting is the advances dentists have made with using less than eight implants to secure the dentures in place.  Dentists can use six or even four strategically placed posts to hold dentures in place.  Fewer posts implanted means a shorter surgery, fewer places for your mouth to heal, less pain and discomfort post-surgery and lower bills for the overall procedure.  At this point, the All-on-4 implant supported dentures have more than 10 years of data and studies, but as this technology improves, the results will continue to improve.  It is important to note that not everyone who is a candidate for implant supported dentures is a good candidate for All-on-4 dentures.  The gum tissue and bone tissue need to be strong and healthy enough to minimize the need for additional support from numerous posts.

All in all, if you and the dentist choose implant supported dentures as your treatment plan for your missing teeth, be sure to talk about the different attachment types, the number of recommended implants, and the recommended material for the dentures to ensure a healthy mouth and a great investment in your future.

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