Dentures were once the only treatment option for patients missing teeth. However, modern technology has brought about new state-of-the-art solutions for common dental problems. Here are two ultra-modern options for avoiding the uncomfortable stick-on dentures that often slide around one’s mouth:
Dental Implants
A dental implant is the latest development in tooth replacement technology. Here’s a quick overview of the procedure.
First, a titanium post is placed in the upper or lower jawbone – depending on where the missing tooth is located. Then, an “abutment” is attached to the implant. This is the foundation of the crown, which is the part of the implant that looks just like your natural teeth. The crown is matched to your existing teeth, so it looks completely natural and then it is screwed or cemented into the abutment.
This is a surgical process, so there is healing time involved, but the benefits are enormous. For example, your jawbone reacts to the dental implant like it is the root of your tooth. This means that, over time, you won’t suffer the bone loss in your jaw that a bridge or other above-gum option would cause.
Additionally, dental implants are extremely easy to care for. Once the full procedure has taken place, you can treat them just like your regular teeth – brushing and flossing as you normally would.
Implant-Supported Dentures
This is a great option for patients who are missing all of their upper or lower teeth and have enough bone in their jaw to support implants. There are two options for implant supported dentures. These are bar-retained dentures and ball-retained dentures.
Bar-retained dentures require between two to five implants. These implants support a thin metal bar that goes around your jawbone. The denture is fitted over the bar and attached to it, providing a stable set of teeth
Ball-retained dentures work on a similar principle, but the dentures are attached with a ball that fits into sockets in the dentures. This is simply another method of stably attaching dentures to your jaw.
Just as is the case with single implants, candidates for implant supported dentures must have enough jawbone to support the implants. Most often, implants are positioned to take advantage of existing bone – so they are commonly attached to the front of the jaw – where bone often remains even after teeth have gone missing.
Implant supported dentures are removable and in many ways can be cared for in the same way as regular dentures. However, when in your mouth, implant supported dentures are stable and won’t become loose.
Are you a candidate for dental implants? Find out! Contact us today to schedule a dental consultation.