Denture Implants

Dentures have had a bad rap for decades. After seeing your grandparents’ teeth floating in a glass of water or listening to them talk and whistle, dentures may be the last thing on your mind. But if you’ve lost your teeth due to poor dental health or an accident, living without a tooth replacement really isn’t an option. Denture implants may be a great solution for you whether you’re missing uppers, lowers or all your teeth. The denture implants you get from your family dentist in Queens will change the way you think about false teeth forever.

Implant dentures are gaining popularity as more and more people see a significant benefit to these tooth replacements. Authority Dental reports that: “Once you get replacement teeth, you’ll be more comfortable and confident. You’ll have a better overall quality of life. With teeth, speaking is easier, smiling is a joy and eating is no problem. Denture implants are especially beneficial because you don’t have to deal with messy adhesives or ugly clasps.”

You can lose your teeth for a number of reasons. Eating too much sugar that then accumulates on your teeth and gums causes cavities and gum disease that leads to tooth loss. Alcohol, drug abuse and smoking cause teeth to deteriorate. Regular cleanings and checkups by your dentist at CitiDental help keep your gums and teeth healthy. Then, if you do need to replace any teeth, you’ve got a relationship with a Queens dentist who’s also a cosmetic dentist.

Denture Implants Advantages

Losing teeth doesn’t just affect your physical appearance. Your entire lifestyle may change — you don’t smile as widely or laugh as often; your level of confidence drops and your eating habits change. One of the worst consequences is that your jaw bone shrinks by about 25 percent when you lose teeth. Talk to your dentist to find out if you’re a suitable candidate for implant dentures, also referred to as an implant overdenture.

Your dental insurance may pay 10 percent of the overdenture cost. But dental implants for dentures provide a number of advantages, including:

1. The ability to bite and chew a wider variety of food that includes raw fruit and vegetables
2. Better nutrient absorption
3. A decrease in digestion disorders
4. Improved speech
5. Jaw bone preservation and regrowth
6. Ease and comfort, as opposed to traditional dentures
7. Fewer gum irritations

Steps to Get Dental Implants for Dentures

Your dentist performs a thorough oral exam, including checking your bone density. A series of questions follow about your general health and what medications you take. Mention any health issues you may have, such as cancer, high blood pressure, autoimmune conditions, heart problems or diabetes.

According to the experts at Colgate: “During the exam, the dentist reviews your medical and dental histories, takes x-rays and creates impressions of your teeth and gums so that models can be made. In some cases, the dentist may order a computed tomography (CT) scan of your mouth. This shows where your sinuses, located above your upper teeth, and nerves are in relation to your bones. It allows the dentist to make sure they won’t be affected by the implant placement. A CT scan also may be done to see how much bone is available and to determine the best locations for the implants.”

Dental Implants for Dentures Process

Implants are composed of titanium screws usually about 3mm to 6mm in diameter. They mimic your tooth’s root. It takes two surgeries to complete the dental implants for dentures process. First, the implant is placed in your jaw bone. Then, the abutment teeth are prepared to hold the dentures.

It can take anywhere from three to six months for your bone and teeth to heal after surgery. The screw must fuse with your gums and the underlying bone to successfully hold implants in place. While you wait for your mouth to heal, expect to undergo frequent checkups. You also may be given a temporary denture while you wait.

Various Kinds of Implant Overdenture

An overdenture resembles your natural teeth, with acrylic pink used for the gums and either porcelain or acrylic for the teeth. Two or four implant posts are strategically placed to help offset the pressure of eating.

Your overdenture cost depends on which type of attachment your dentist recommends. Options include:

• Bar-retained uses a metal bar to curve around the jawline to connect the implants. Attachment clips secure the implant overdenture to the bar.
• Ball-retained relies on buttons that you use to pop on the dentures securely over the implants.
• Fixed denture implants are one piece and screwed onto the posts.

Aftercare for your Implant Overdenture

Implant dentures typically last for 25 years or even longer if you adopt good dental hygiene routines. Your dentist gives you tips and instructions for how to correctly brush and floss. Follow his instructions to preserve your implant dentures.

Maintain your regular dental appointments, too. Your Queens dentist checks your denture implants to ensure they’re healthy and strong. Then, all you have to do enjoy your smile makeover with complete confidence.