Implant-Supported Dentures Help You Regain Your Smile
Implant-supported dentures are a hybrid treatment for missing teeth that combines the benefits of dentures and a fixed bridge solution. Regular dentures mount to a person’s mouth and gums. Implant-supported dentures, on the other hand, are mounted to fixed implants that are placed in the mouth.
The overarching benefit of getting implant-supported dentures is the incredible stability they provide. Good regular dentures are custom-fit to the shape of your mouth. However, the shape of your gums can change over time, and therefore the stability of regular dentures can vary and become very uncomfortable to wear. Oftentimes people use denture gel with regular dentures to help keep them in place.
Implant-supported dentures snap into place on anchors that are placed in the jaw. Implant dentures are only used to replace a full set of teeth, either your upper or lower sets of teeth. The process of getting implant dentures can take months, but provide added benefits once the procedure is complete.
The longest part of the process is getting the implants placed in your jaw. Because of the nature of the implants, the dentist needs to allow them to bond with the bone of your jaw after being put in place. It generally takes anywhere from 2 to 6 months for this to happen.
After that procedure, the dentist needs to attach a connect component to the implants that will connect with the dentures. The nature of this part of the procedure varies depending on which dentures you opt for, which is something your dentist will explain to you thoroughly beforehand.
Implant-supported dentures offer a more permanent and comfortable solution to traditional removable dentures. This includes added stability and a better chewing ability. People who have used removable dentures for an extended period of time often move to implant dentures for these reasons.