Can Attaching Your Dentures to Dental Implants Help Your Smile?
Do you wear dentures? If so, you are not alone! Out of the 35 million people in the U.S. who are missing their teeth, a whopping 90% of them wear dentures. While they are a reliable way to complete a smile, they can still have their drawbacks. They can tend to slip out of place at random times and can even begin to lose their snug fit as your jaw changes shape with age. Fortunately, there is a better alternative: attaching your dentures to dental implants. Read on to learn more about why implant-retained dentures may be the better choice for your smile!
What are the Disadvantages of Traditional Dentures?
With the advancements in dental technology, dentures have become more natural-looking and functional than ever before. Unfortunately, while traditional can replace your bite power, they cannot prevent bone loss. Since prosthetics are unable to stimulate your jawbone, it begins to diminish. This can result in changes in the shape of your face. As your face changes, it will require you to visit your dentist more frequently to get necessary adjustments to your partial or full dentures. If not, your prosthetic will become ill-fitting, impacting how you talk, chew, and even smile.
Implant Dentures: Where Dentures and Dental Implants Meet
So, what can be done to prevent bone loss and give you a more stable smile? Implant retained dentures! They have become a popular tooth-replacement option that anchors your tried-and-true dentures to the biocompatible titanium posts of dental implants. These posts are inserted directly into your jawbone, which begin to naturally fuse with your jawbone over time (a process called osseointegration). Your final result? A completely rebuilt smile, from root to crown.
What are the Benefits of Implant Retained Dentures?
Attaching your denture to dental implants have a number of benefits, including:
- Improved stability: Over time, implant dentures strengthen your smile and provide long-lasting stability due to the stimulation of your jawbone.
- Jawbone preservation: Attaching your dentures to dental implants ensures your jawbone won’t continue to deteriorate. This will preserve your facial structure, as well as the everyday functioning of your teeth.
- Natural appearance: Implant dentures use high-quality materials that provide unmatched durability, as well as appearing very lifelike.
- 20+ year lifespan: While dentures generally last between five and ten years, implant dentures can last up to a lifetime with proper care.
While dentures are a wonderful way to complete your smile, implant dentures are an alternative tooth replacement that can enhance your oral health and provide many other benefits! By visiting your dentist, you can find out if attaching your dentures to dental implants is the best choice for you.