What are Implant Retained Dentures?
With implant retained dentures, dentures are held securely in place with implants. You still wear dentures, but dental implants hold them in place and most of your bite’s force is on your gums. You can still remove your dentures. Plus, implant retained dentures can also be created with more choices of materials.
Why Implant Retained Dentures?
There are a number of reasons why you might decide to choose implant retained dentures over traditional dentures, which include the following:
Efficient Chewing And Speaking :
Typically, when you have a missing tooth, your oral health benefits most by having it replaced. Having missing teeth can impact your ability to chew and speak and affect your “bite.” Implant retained dentures are specifically designed to provide you with an effective bite by taking the force of your bite directly to your bone.
Reduced headaches and muscle pain: Traditional dentures can also place more burden on the teeth you have remaining, causing headaches and muscle pain in your jaw. It can, of course, impact your appearance as well.
Reduced number of implants:
You don’t need as many dental implants either, and often TWO IMPLANTS can secure your dentures.
Improved function overdentures:
Dentures alone don’t function like your natural teeth. Many people only wear their upper or lower dentures a certain percentage of the time (not both at the same time). Others don’t wear them at all since dentures lack retention and are unstable. The lower denture is often called a “floater” since it floats in your mouth instead of being anchored into place securely. Because of this, you can’t eat the same quality of food you once enjoyed when you had your natural teeth. Your tongue will constantly try and dislodge your denture.This can lead to poor digestion, nutrition and health. Also, the underlying bone you need for keeping your dentures in place is continually dissolving because the denture isn’t stimulating the bone like your natural teeth. Dentures actually make your bone go away. And, the more you lose bone over time, the worse fit your dentures will be. Fortunately, implant retained dentures solve this problem.
Types of Implant Retained Dentures
Removable overdentures
These are standard dentures our dentist anchors into your mouth by fitting them over a bar that’s attached to conventional implants or over just mini or conventional implants. They’re called overdentures because they fit over the dental implants. They’re removable and you need to take them out after you eat and for cleaning at night and in the morning. Basically, you treat these the same way you would regular dentures.
Non-removable fixed dentures
These are another option. They’re also referred to as fixed detachable dentures or hybrid dentures. They stay in your mouth all the time and they’re made of regular strength. You treat them like you would your natural teeth, brushing and flossing them every day. Our dentist anchors these in with five or more implants per jaw. They’re classified as not removable (permanent), though our dentist could take them out if needed without causing any damage to the underlying implants. These provide you with the best function second to having your natural teeth and are the strongest between the two implant retained denture types.
Is There Any Pain With Implant Retained Dentures?
Oral surgery is required for this procedure. Most individuals report less pain than expected. We’ll provide you with some pain relievers, but the way you experience pain won’t be the same as the next patient. We’ll ensure you’re comfortable before your surgery and after. Once your initial surgery pain goes away, it’s rare you’ll require more pain relievers.