What Are Implant Supported Dentures?

You probably know what a denture is, especially if you have childhood memories of older family members taking out their teeth. Dentures are dental prosthetics that are used to replace multiple missing teeth. Some dentures replace just a few teeth with a single prosthetic, usually a bridge, while others replace an entire row of missing teeth with a complete denture. Traditional dentures are removable; the base of the denture is sculpted to fit into the palate or the space behind the tongue, and it is held in place by adhesive denture paste. Traditional dentures also rest on the gum tissue, where they can painfully rub or slip and interfere with day-to-day activities like talking and eating. Implant supported dentures, on the other hand, are securely held in place by dental implant posts that are surgically placed into the jaw, making them exponentially more stable and comfortable than traditional removable dentures.

Implant supported dental restorations are universally appreciated for their durability, stability, and natural look and feel, allowing millions of people to smile, laugh, and eat confidently and painlessly. What many people don’t realize, however, is that dental implants are clinically preferred over removable dentures for one very clear medical reason in particular: by stimulating the bone and muscle that surround and support them, dental implants help preserve the health of the jaw, much like natural tooth roots do, while removable dentures can actively compromise the health of the jaw and other oral tissues as they continuously rub against the same tissues they rely on for support.

Surgically placed into the jawbone, dental implants are tiny cylinders, usually made of medical-grade titanium, positioned like the roots of a natural tooth. As a dental implant heals, the bone around it fuses to the implant and creates a long-lasting, sturdy bond. It usually takes a few months, if not longer, for the bone and implant post to completely fuse. Once this bond has formed, the implant becomes the supporting base for a dental prosthetic. Some dental implants support a single dental crown, creating the same balanced root-to-tooth relationship as a natural tooth and its root. Other dental implants support more than one tooth; it’s not uncommon to rely on a single dental implant to be the base of a bridge that includes two or three teeth. It’s also not uncommon for as few as four dental implants to support an entire row of teeth, in the form of an overdenture affixed to strategically placed implants. These implant supported dentures can be permanently affixed to the implants that support them, or they can be designed to snap into and out of the mouth.

Using fewer implants to support more teeth is less invasive, requires fewer surgical procedures, and is less expensive, but it isn’t necessarily a great option for everyone – at least not without careful planning and the possibility of additional procedures. For example, it’s imperative that patients with implant supported dentures have sufficient healthy bone tissue, and if the jawbone is compromised or lacks robustness, it’s likely that bone grafts will be needed before implants are a safe option. It’s also not a great idea for people with active gum disease to get dental implants, so treatment for gum disease is imperative before implants are safe. Any of these supporting procedures are integral to the long-term success of dental implants, but they inevitably add to the time to completion for implant supported denture treatment.

If you’re looking for a durable, natural, comfortable solution for multiple missing teeth, make an appointment with your dentist. They’ll review the different steps involved with dental implants and implant supported dentures, breaking down the timeline and cost and answering all your questions. Together, you can determine whether implant supported dentures are right for you.

Related Article: Implant Supported Dentures vs Conventional Dentures