Dental implant supported dentures
Along with crowns and bridges, dentures are a treatment solution to replace missing teeth. There are different types of dentures to replace single or multiple missing teeth that may or may not be supported by dental implants.
Purpose of dental implants
Dental implants are posts or screws usually made of a transition metal such as titanium. These posts are inserted and fixed within the jaw bone, fusing with the bone to serve as missing tooth roots. Once bone fusion occurs, artificial teeth such as dentures may be securely anchored to the dental implants.
Dental implants may be an option for people with partial or complete dentures. One or more teeth lost due to tooth decay, gum disease or trauma may be fully replaced with dental implant supported dentures.
The popularity of dental implants has soared due to their success at securing dentures, preventing dentures from becoming ill-fitting when gum tissue changes over time. Many people choose dental implants to give them greater control over their artificial teeth. Dental implant supported dentures mimic natural teeth allowing for confident enjoyment of meals and communication with others.
Types of dentures
Nowadays there are choices in types of dentures ranging from dentures made of plastic, nylon, acrylic, resin and those that are metal plated. Some dentures like flexible Valplast dentures function through suctioning to the gums and palate while others are fitted to a cast plate or frame.
Dentures may be temporary, partial or complete depending on the amount of teeth that require replacement. Teeth on the upper, lower or both jaws may be replaced with dentures. Partial dentures usually replace one or a few missing teeth on a dental arch, while complete dentures replace a full arch of missing teeth.
Attaching dentures to dental implants
Dentures suitable for dental implant support may be bar or ball-retained. Artificial gums are created using an acrylic base that mimics natural gum tissue. Denture teeth restorations that attach to this acrylic base may be made from porcelain to look just like natural teeth.
If ball-retained, the implant attachments for anchoring the dentures are ball-shaped. In contrast, a metal bar-retained denture consists of a fine metal bar with clips that attach to between two and five dental implants.
Gum tissue shrinkage
As we age, our gum tissue changes and some of us experience gum shrinkage more than others. Non-implant dentures are made to attach to the gums and rely on gum structure for good fitting. When gum shrinkage occurs, the custom-made dentures may no longer fit as well causing the dentures to shift and move in the mouth.
Adjusting dentures
Ill-fitting dentures may result in gum irritation, spitting when talking and difficulty in pronouncing words. It may become harder to chew food too. Although dentures may be adjusted by a denture dentist to fit the changed gum tissue structure, it is by far not a permanent solution as gum tissue continually changes further with age.
Supporting dentures with dental implants
An implant dentist assesses a person's jaw bone quality for denture dental implant treatment. Dental implant supported dentures are specially designed with attachments that anchor to the dental implants inserted within the jaw bone. Commonly, teeth lost on the lower jaw are replaced with implant supported dentures for greater stability. The dentures may be unclipped from the dental implants for cleaning of gums and dentures.