What are implant-supported dentures?
Implant-supported dentures are just that: dentures that sit on top of dental implants. Traditional dentures fit snugly over your gums and stay in place with adhesives or glue.
Implant-supported dentures, on the other hand, snap onto a series of small metal posts fused to your jawbone.
You don’t remove implant-supported dentures at night. They stay in your mouth at all times, and you care for them like you would your natural, permanent teeth. In addition to being more comfortable than traditional dentures, implant-supported dentures are easy to care for.
Am I a good candidate for implant-supported dentures?
Only qualified dentists, like the team at Riverside Dental Associates, can determine if you’re a good candidate for dental implants. That said, you’re probably a good candidate if you wear traditional dentures and have healthy gums and plenty of jawbone.
During your initial consultation, your Riverside Dental Associates provider conducts a thorough oral exam, reviews your medical history, and asks you about your goals for treatment. If necessary, your dentist might also take a series of oral X-rays to get a closer look at your tooth roots and jaws.
What is the process for getting implant-supported dentures?
Getting implant-supported dentures usually takes a series of appointments over 6-12 months. While this may seem like a long time, it’s important to remember that with proper care, implant-supported dentures can last a lifetime.
On the day of your operation, your dentist administers a local anesthetic to numb your tooth roots and gums. Once the anesthesia sets in, your dentist carefully places a series of titanium posts into small incisions in your gum tissue. Following surgery, you return home to recover. Over time, your bone tissue grows around the implants, fusing them in place.
A few months later, you return to Riverside Dental Associates. At your second appointment, your dentist takes impressions of your gums and sends them to a laboratory that manufactures your implant-supported dentures. A week or two later, you return to the office, and your dentist bonds your implant-supported dentures to your implants.
How do I care for my implant-supported dentures?
You care for your implant-supported dentures like you would your natural teeth. The team at Riverside Dental Associates recommends brushing and flossing daily, visiting the dentist every six months for a professional cleaning and exam, and avoiding bad habits like smoking and biting your fingernails.
To request your implant-supported denture consultation today, call the office or request an appointment online.
