We all have memories of our grand parents struggling to come to terms with bulky, obviously fake, loose fitting teeth which jiggled around in their mouths as they spoke or attempted to eat. Thankfully, like a great many things in life, advancements in dental technology have seen new dentures emerge which replicate natural teeth in so many ways, that it’s often hard to tell the difference. One of these innovations is the implant supported denture which as a Southampton dentist, we have no hesitation in recommending to patients.
So what exactly is an implant supported denture?
Well, as its name implies, it’s a full denture in the lower or upper jaw which is attached to dental implants. Dental implants are embedded into jaw and when used to anchor dentures in place, offers a level of stability that is unheard of in other types of denture. It’s more regularly used in the lower jaw, which is the hardest area to keep traditional dentures in place, but sometimes it’s used in the upper jaw too.
Determining if treatment is right for you
The first step is to ascertain whether you’re a suitable candidate for implant retained dentures and this will involve a visit to your cosmetic dentist in Southampton. He will tell you whether you have sufficient bone to support the implants and whether or not you require any other procedures to get your mouth ready for surgery, such as a sinus lift or bone graft.
If you’re given the go-ahead then you’ll need a temporary denture to wear while you’re waiting for your implants to heal. This will take several weeks and numerous fittings where impressions are taken and models fitted. This will also serve as a guide for when the surgeon places your implants.
As few as 4 to 6 implants will be placed at strategic intervals and angles into your jaw bone to support the denture. You’ll then need to wait for several months for the implants to fuse with the surrounding bone and soft tissues. Once this has happened, then the implants will be uncovered and prepared for the ball attachments to be placed. These will fit into corresponding sockets into the bottom of the prosthetic, enabling the wearer to click their dentures on and off for cleaning and brushing.
Once this has been done and healing has taken place you’ll undergo another session of trying on your new teeth and only once satisfied with their appearance will be they be cemented firmly into the denture, and you’ll be good to go.
The whole procedure from start to finish can take up to a year depending on what needs to be done, but according to our patients, the wait is well worth it. Although it represents a considerable financial and time commitment, it’s by far the best way to replace multiple missing teeth. If you’d like to know more about implant retained dentures, then why not book an implant consultation with Smilemakers, your trusted Southampton dentist. You can call us direct on 02380 442626 or contact us online at www.smilemakers.co.uk.
