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Implant-Supported Dentures
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Do you struggle with ill-fitting dentures, messy adhesives, or an impaired ability to chew or speak? Traditional dentures can be as uncomfortable as they are inconvenient. At Oelbaum & Kagan Dentistry, we can replace your traditional dentures with dentures that are supported by dental implants for a more secure and comfortable fit. As an added advantage, implant-supported dentures are designed to fully restore the function of your teeth while giving your smile a beautiful, natural appearance.

What Are Implant Dentures?

Implant dentures are often considered an upgrade from traditional dentures. Rather than rely on messy pastes and adhesives to keep dentures in place, this option is designed to anchor restorations to your jawbone with dental implants. For many patients, this additional security provides a more comfortable denture fit, minimizing gum irritation and slippage for increased confidence when eating, drinking, and speaking. Plus, individuals with implant dentures commonly find they have the ability to eat tougher foods, as well as a wider range of foods, when compared to traditional dentures. Treatment for implant dentures involves placing small titanium posts into a patient’s gum tissue to serve as the fastening point for dentures or restorations. In this way, implant dentures are meant to stay rooted for a lifetime and function as a natural part of your mouth.

What Are the Benefits of Implant Dentures?

The key to the success of implant-supported dentures, also known as implant-anchored dentures, is a set of titanium posts implanted into the gum tissue. These titanium posts eventually fuse to the jawbone and allow your denture to snap firmly into place, eliminating the need for adhesives and providing a more comfortable, secure fit. This advanced prosthodontics technique can provide benefits including:

  • Greatly reduced slippage along the gum line
  • Minimized gum irritation
  • Zero adhesives
  • Improved comfort
  • Natural look and feel

In addition, patients who are not eligible for a full set of dental implants due to insufficient jawbone density are often good candidates for implant-supported dentures.

Who is a Good Candidate for Implant Dentures?

Implant dentures can benefit individuals seeking a long-lasting solution to address the inconveniences presented by unanchored dentures, such as instability and discomfort. Ideal candidates for treatment should have relatively healthy gum tissue and good oral health. Patients should also have no uncontrolled medical conditions that may interfere with the implants’ ability to fuse with the jawbone or the subsequent healing process. For this reason, those undergoing chemotherapy or radiation may not be ideal candidates for treatment.

Lastly, men and women interested in implant dentures should have enough jawbone density to support placement of the implants. Usually the longer a space from a missing tooth or extraction remains unfilled, the more bone loss is experienced in the affected area. Fortunately, individuals who lack the necessary bone structure to withstand implantation may be able to regenerate new bone prior to implant placement with a bone grafting procedure. This bone regrowth technique can correct bone deficiencies caused by extended tooth loss. One of our dentists will go over all of your options with you during a consultation to determine preliminary steps before your implant denture treatment, or suggest another procedure that can serve as a good alternative to implant dentures.

Implant-Supported Dentures Options

At Oelbaum & Kagan Dentistry, we offer several types of implant-supported dentures so you can select the option that best meets your needs:

  • Traditional implant-supported dentures
  • All-On-4® Anchored Dentures

During the consultation process, your dentist will discuss the unique advantages of each type of implant-supported denture and help you decide which treatment plan can achieve your goals.

How is the Implant Dentures Procedure Performed?

Implant-supported dentures are considered a minimally invasive oral surgery. After your dentist strategically inserts the allotted number of titanium posts into your gum line, your implants will be left to integrate with your jawbone for the next few months. The length of the procedure to place your implants will vary from case to case, but recovery and downtime are usually quite minimal. In the meantime, your custom denture will be fabricated by an outside dental lab. Once your gums have healed and the titanium posts have successfully fused with your jawbone, the permanent denture can be fastened into place. With proper care and maintenance, your implant-supported dentures can provide you with a confident, beautiful smile for decades.

How Long Will Implant-Supported Dentures Last?

Once fully integrated with your jawbone, implant dentures are intended to function like a natural part of your mouth. Therefore, the lifespan of dental implants is often comparable to the longevity of your natural teeth. If you do not keep up with daily oral hygiene or undergo regular dental exams to monitor the state of your oral health, your teeth and gums are more likely to be weakened by decay. Poor oral hygiene habits can similarly compromise the security of your dental implants, with bacteria buildup in the mouth considered among the top reasons for implant failure.

With consistent brushing and flossing, as well as semi-annual professional dental cleanings, implant dentures can last for 10 to 20 years or longer. These results greatly outlast the outcome of traditional dentures, which generally only last 5 to 10 years as the jawbone continues to recede. Unlike prostheses that simply sit on top of the jawbone, implant dentures are designed to strengthen the underlying bone, allowing them to last indefinitely with proper oral hygiene.

How Do I Clean My Implant Dentures?

Implant dentures typically don’t require much more maintenance than your natural teeth do to remain in good condition. Since your dentures are able to “snap” in and out of place, you should have no problem removing the restoration to clean the underlying gums and implant abutments. Once your denture has been removed, a toothbrush and toothpaste (or mild dish soap) may be used to remove loose food particles and clean your restoration. Soaking the dentures weekly in a denture cleansing solution can also help keep the prosthesis free of residual bacteria. In general, it’s recommended to remove your dentures at night to alleviate the pressure on your gums while asleep.

What is the Average Cost of Implant Dentures?

The price of implant dentures will be unique to each patient. Typically, the total expense will depend in part on the state of your oral health and whether dental therapy (such as periodontal treatment), tooth extractions, or a bone grafting procedure is necessary prior to placement of the dental implants. Other factors that can affect your cost estimate include:

  • The number of dental implants necessary
  • The number of teeth that need replacing
  • The type and quality of your restoration
  • The implantation technique used

The expertise of your dentist and the geographic location where the procedure is performed will also influence the price of implant dentures. Because this restorative treatment is such a subjective procedure, it can be difficult to ascertain the average cost of treatment without knowing the details of your treatment plan. You can be confident that once your unique needs are assessed in a consultation, a friendly member of our team will provide you with a personalized quote as well as a full breakdown of the estimated cost of implant dentures.

Ensuring all patients can receive the necessary dental care to enhance their smile and oral health is of the utmost importance to our team, which is why we accept a range of payment methods to bring the cost of treatment into your budget. To accommodate the diverse needs of our patients, our practice also works with CareCredit®— the nation’s leading health care financing company that offers a number of low- to no-interest payment plans for qualified applicants. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our practice.

Are There Any Implant Denture Alternatives?

Our Bronx-area practice offers several alternatives to implant dentures, including fixed dental bridges and implant-supported bridges. Our team strives to formulate the best possible treatment plan for your needs and preferences, and we will be able to present you with potential alternatives to implant dentures during your consultation.

Generally speaking, dental bridges are designed to replace one or more consecutive missing teeth by filling in the absent space with a partial prosthesis. This prosthesis, which is usually secured to adjacent healthy teeth via dental crowns, is meant to “bridge” the gap. This can help complete your smile as well as restore a well-functioning bite. These restorations differ from implant dentures because they are typically affixed with crowns rather than being anchored to the jawbone, and they only restore a portion of the dentition rather than an entire dental arch. That said, dental bridges can also be secured to your mouth with dental implants if desired, depending on your long-term goals.

Once you visit our practice, our dentists can talk to you about your goals and explore the most ideal treatment options to resolve your concerns. Whether you opt for a fixed or implant-supported restoration, our solutions to replace missing teeth can have both functional and aesthetic benefits for your smile.

Additional Implant Denture FAQs

What should I eat after my implant-supported dentures surgery?

Immediately after the procedure, patients should stick to an all-liquid diet until instructed otherwise by their dentist, periodontist, or implant surgeon. This may include smoothies, protein drinks, smooth soups, applesauce, etc. It’s important to avoid very hot or very cold foods during the initial healing period. Our team will provide you with detailed instructions regarding aftercare following implant surgery.

How long does it take for the gums to heal after getting implants?

Each person’s recovery time after implant surgery depends on the number of implants placed, the location of the implants, and whether a bone grafting or tooth extraction procedure was performed beforehand. On average, it takes approximately three days for swelling in the gums to improve and we encourage you to avoid strenuous activities during this time. Many patients are able to resume their normal routine a few days after their procedure, although soreness and tenderness are common. It typically takes four to six months for your implants to properly fuse with the jawbone, a process known as “osseointegration.”

Do implant dentures offer any health benefits?

If you struggle with several missing teeth, implant dentures can have a number of adjunctive health benefits. Implants allow more security and confidence when chewing so patients can eat the crunchy, nutritious foods they may have otherwise missed out on. This can not only lead to positive health benefits, but may also reduce bacteria buildup in the mouth caused by unhealthy foods. Additionally, implant dentures work to prevent loss of bone volume and encourage regeneration of a healthy, stable bone structure.

Are implant-supported dentures removable?

Implant dentures are usually fixed to the jawbone, which is often considered one of the primary benefits of treatment when compared to traditional dentures that slip in and out of place. With your prosthesis affixed to the jaw by dental implants, there should be greater security for your dentures so you can eat and speak more confidently and comfortably. Implant-supported dentures do not have to be removed to remain in good condition, and your prosthesis can be cleaned in much of the same way as you take care of your natural teeth — with consistent brushing and flossing.

Will I need preliminary treatments before getting implant dentures?

In certain cases, our team may need to perform preliminary treatments before implant surgery to make sure your mouth and oral health are in the best possible condition. In general, the process of affixing implant dentures to the jaw is most successful when your mouth is in its healthiest possible state. If there’s evidence of bacteria buildup, we may suggest periodontal treatment beforehand to cleanse your gums of decay and reduce the risk of potential complications during the procedure.

Equally important to obtaining a good outcome with implant dentures is having enough bone volume to support the implants. Missing teeth can cause the jawbone to gradually recede, sometimes resulting in a loss of bone too substantial to properly anchor dental implants. In some cases, a bone graft may be necessary to help regenerate the jawbone and create a stable foundation for implant dentures. Fortunately, implant dentures typically require less bone density to remain secure than using dental implants to replace each individual tooth.

For more information on implant-supported dentures, or to schedule a consultation with one of our dentists, please contact Oelbaum & Kagan Dentistry today.