For many years, orthodontists have used denture products to help patients maintain function in their mouths when they start to lose teeth, but implant dentures have also been an alternative solution for quite awhile. Implant dentures are a different class of orthodontic prosthetics, something that may be worth looking into for patients who want a more permanent solution for promoting a better cosmetic appearance and better dental function.
What Are Implant Dentures?
Implant dentures or dental implants differ from removable dentures in that they are installed permanently in the mouth. Dental implants may use hard materials like titanium or heavy metals in what’s called “osseointegration” where the implant dentures attach directly to the bone structure under the gum line. This causes the implant dentures to function much like regular teeth and eliminates the need for a patient to deal with the maintenance and care required for removable dentures.
Benefits of Implant Dentures
One of the big benefits being promoted by orthodontists is that implant dentures help to deal with the risk of gradual recession of bone structures. Dentists look at all kinds of patients to determine whether the bone structures that hold the teeth in place are healthy. Periodontal problems and other issues can lead to a loss and even erode the jaw bone.
Removable dentures can cause some problems with bacteria buildup of the gum line. Generally, there’s risk involved in using removable dentures that may prevent critical access to the gums or otherwise escalate a bone loss problem. Some orthodontists claim that implant dentures help to provide a lower risk of these kinds of bone loss.
Types of Implant Dentures
Within the category of dental implants, there are “mini-implants” meant to hold dentures in place and two kinds of metal-crafted implants called bar-retaining and ball-retaining implants. Both of these denture implant types hold an acrylic denture in place for a permanent dental solution. These implants have their own benefits and risks and learning more about them is critical for making long term decisions about your denture solutions.
Dealing with Implant Dentures
Because the process of installing implant dentures is somewhat invasive, patients can struggle with some common side effects of these procedures. Directly after the installation, there may be pain in the affected areas, and it may take a while to get used to the feeling of having a permanent denture implanted into your mouth.
If you are looking at different alternatives for replacing lost or decayed teeth, talk to your dentist and orthodontist about the best ways to fix your own individual dental problems. Qualified modern dental care providers can assess your whole mouth, as well as your dental history, and come up with effective, safe solutions for making your mouth look better and helping you plan for the future of your teeth and gums.
