If you’re missing a whole row of your teeth, you may have tossed around the idea of getting dentures. While they’re a great tooth replacement solution for many patients, you may benefit more from dentures that are secured onto dental implants. With implant dentures, you can enjoy stable and lifelike full-arch replacement teeth that look and feel like your original smile. To learn more about implant dentures in Moses Lake, read on below, and call Moses Lake Family Dentistry when you’re ready to schedule your consultation!
Instead of resting on the gums like traditional dentures, implant dentures are attached to small titanium posts that are surgically placed below your gumline, called dental implants. After they’re secured in your mouth, the implants undergo a process called osseointegration, where they’re able to naturally fuse with your jawbone to provide a strong and stable foundation for your prosthetic teeth. This feature also allows the implants to act like the roots of your natural teeth by providing necessary blood flow and stimulation to your jawbone, preventing it from deteriorating and changing the shape of your face. Once the process is complete and your dentures are attached to the implants, you’ll be able to enjoy a beautiful, natural-looking smile that’s healthy and strong.
Depending on your unique circumstances, your implant dentist in Moses Lake might recommend one of the two types of implant dentures:
This prosthetic is permanently attached to the implant posts that support them. Only a dentist can remove a fixed implant denture. Since they remain in your mouth at all times, you can brush and floss just as you would with a complete set of natural teeth. In most cases, it takes between four and eight implants to secure a full denture.
Alternatively, your implant denture can be designed so that you can take it out of your mouth at any time. This may be ideal for patients who are already used to removing their dentures for daily cleaning. Removable implant dentures generally require fewer implants than fixed dentures, so they may benefit patients with lower jawbone density.
The process of getting implant dentures typically takes longer than that of conventional dentures, but this solution is more than worth the wait! All in all, it may take several months to a year or longer, as the implants will need between three and six months to integrate with your jawbone.
After your consultation with Dr. Harder, our team will refer you to one of the best oral surgeons in Grant County that we actively partner with to insert the implants. After that, you’ll return to our office so we can take impressions to craft your new dentures. Once the implants are bonded to your jawbone, we can secure your new prosthetic to your implants, completing your newly restored smile.
Implant dentures have a few unique requirements that a patient must possess compared to regular dentures. The most common traits of a good dental implant candidate include:
The best way to learn whether you’re a good candidate for dental implants in Moses Lake is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Harder. If you aren’t eligible right away, we may suggest preparatory procedures to help you become so. This may include gum disease therapy or bone grafting to strengthen your jawbone if it has weakened after tooth loss.
Why get implant dentures instead of regular dentures? Implant dentures come with several benefits that you won’t get with traditional prosthetics, such as: