Dental Implants for Existing Partial Dentures
Dental implants are one of the most popular tooth replacement treatment options preferred by adults in the United States. This popularity is due to the fact that dental implants offer improved stability, security, and durability over alternative tooth replacement treatments. Dental implants can also be used in combination with these alternative tooth replacement options, including existing partial dentures, to improve stability and durability. If you have existing partial dentures, you should consider adding a dental implant or two. Here is more information on how you can add dental implants to your existing partial dentures and the benefits of doing so.
What are Dental Implants?
A dental implant is a metal post that is surgically installed in the jawbone to “permanently” replace a missing tooth. This implant is designed to act like the root of a new artificial tooth. Once installed, the implant will slowly fuse to the jawbone in a process called osseointegration. After the implant has successfully fused with the jawbone and is secure, an artificial tooth, called a crown, can be securely attached on top of it, creating a brand-new tooth. The entire implant treatment plan occurs over a series of procedures and can take several months up to one year to complete.
Challenges with Full or Partial Dentures
If you have full or partial dentures, then you are certainly aware of the challenges faced with having dentures. Issues with a secure fit, the embarrassing sound they can make when speaking, and the difficulty with chewing the foods you like are all part of your day to day. You should know that many patients with dentures struggle with these daily challenges and that you don’t have to struggle forever. There are effective, long-term solutions available to stabilize your dentures and to eliminate or minimize these challenges. Below are some of the most common complaints about traditional dentures.
- Issues with fit
- Diet restrictions
- Irritation and discomfort
- Loss of chewing and speaking function
Combining Dental Implants with Existing Dentures
Using a series of dental implants securely installed in the bone, your oral surgeon can create a stable foundation to securely attach your dentures. A denture that attaches to dental implants will become immediately stable. There are many benefits of adding dental implants, including preventing further loss of natural bone. Alternatively, dentures will need to be constantly refitted in response to the process of ongoing bone loss. Implants will improve the stability of your dentures, making them more comfortable. Other benefits of combining your dentures with dental implants include increased self-confidence, better diet, and improved function and appearance.
The procedure for combining dental implants with dentures is entirely customizable and will be based on your oral health needs. For example, it may be possible for your existing denture to be modified to snap onto your new dental implant. Alternatively, you may want to have a new partial or full denture made based on your goals. To determine the details of the procedure that will be best for you, you will want to schedule an appointment with your dental provider and an oral surgeon.
The steps of combining implants and dentures: In most cases, dentures are custom-made in a lab using impressions made of your mouth. These impressions will need to be taken before and after the implant is installed. Next it is time for the dental implant to be inserted into the jaw. After the implant is placed, the gum and tissues in the mouth must heal around the implant. Implants can replace a single tooth, several teeth, or they can act as a support for dentures. Once the implant and mouth have healed, the new custom-made dentures can be fitted to the implant.
Benefits of Implant Supported Dentures
Combining your existing partial dentures with dental implants will produce a tooth replacement system that offers many advantages over your current replacement system. Some of these benefits include:
- Stability and Simplicity: Combining implants with dentures will likely involve one or two implants being installed to hold your dentures in place. This new system will give you the stability of permanent dental implants with the simplicity of a conventional denture.
- Improved fit: Combining dental implants with your dentures provides improved fit, with the implants holding the dentures firmly in place but enabling easy removal for cleaning.
- Improved functionality: Improved fit will lead to improved chewing and speaking function, offering many additional benefits including increased self-esteem and a healthier diet.
- Improved appearance: When natural teeth are lost, the jaw and mouth shrink overtime, significantly impacting the appearance of the face. Traditional dentures can’t address this problem, but implants help to preserve the shape and structure of the face.
- Permanent solution: Implant-supported dentures offer a more permanent solution to tooth loss than alternative options, including partial dentures.
Affordability: Implant- supported dentures are often more cost effective than getting an individual dental implant for each missing tooth in the mouth.
Bone Loss Issues with Dentures
After tooth loss, bone loss can continue to occur overtime. Unfortunately, replacing the teeth with standard dentures, that do not have roots, does not address this issue. Additionally, prolonged use of a badly-fitting dentures may cause further bone loss. Dental implants are uniquely designed to address this issue by encouraging bone growth and redistributing bite pressure across the mouth. The implant fuses with the jawbone in a process called osseointegration, which leads to a secure hold and a revitalization of the bone. Without the implant fusing to the bone, the jaw will continue to degenerate with time.
Finding an Expert to Combine Dentures with Dental Implants
Prior to committing to implant-supported denture treatment, you will want to make sure you find an expert surgeon who feels comfortable creating and executing this treatment plan. Unfortunately, studies show that one in five implants installed by general dentists fail. The high success rate of implants is largely due to the fact that most procedures are performed by skilled surgical specialists with years of training and experience. You should schedule an appointment with your dental provider and discuss with them oral surgeons they feel would be qualified for your procedure.