Implant supported Dentures

Dentures are oral restorative appliances that are designed to be inserted into the oral cavity to replace the patient's lost set of natural teeth. Such dental restorations are also capable of providing firm support to the patient's cheeks and lips. Implant-supported dentures are also known as overdentures. Overdentures are basically dentures that are fixated into the jawbone supported by implants. 

When do we recommend implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures are generally recommended for patients who suffer from missing teeth in the jawbone but have the jaw strength to support the implants. Overdentures or implant-supported dentures are generally recommended for the lower jawbone than the upper jawbone as dentures tend to slip away faster when placed in the lower jawbone than the upper jawbone. 

What is involved in getting implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures come in two types - bar-retained and ball-retained. Although both implant-supported dentures are similar in terms of appearance, there are slight differences that set them apart from each other.

Bar-retained dentures: These dentures are attached to metal bars that securely holds a set of implants in the jawbone. The denture would fit over the bar and would be secured into place.

Ball-retained dentures: Ball-retained dentures are held by implants that are ball-shaped. They would be able to easily fit into the sockets of the denture.

The process involved in getting your implant-dentures takes place in a series of steps. The dentist would take X-rays of teeth and design impressions of the teeth and gums. This helps model custom-dentures. Placing your implant-supported denture is a surgical process. A careful incision would be made on the gums where the implant would be placed. Drilling a hole into the jawbone would help insert the implant in place. Until the permanent implant-supported dentures are ready, the dentist would set temporary dentures in place. Once the implant has properly fused into the jawbone and the stitches have healed, the dentist would place and set the permanent implant-supported denture. 

Find out more about implant-supported dentures by placing an appointment with us. Get personalized dental care in Vero Beach today.