A Look at the Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures
For many years, dentures have been the most common treatment for replacing missing teeth. However, traditional dentures are not without their downfalls, especially for some patients. If you are a denture wearer who is unhappy with your dentures, implant-supported dentures may be the next step to consider.
Implant-supported dentures are held securely in place by a series of dental implants. The implants are surgically installed in the jawbone, and the specially-made dentures are fastened to the implants. Take a look at a few of the most noteworthy benefits of implant-supported dentures below.
Implant-Supported Dentures Are Stable and Don't Shift
Dentures should be well-fitting enough that they don't shift easily. However, even well-fitting dentures can and do shift and move. For example, dentures may slightly rock up and down when you chew on something crunchy. Or, the denture may slip across the gums when you make certain facial expressions.
With implant-supported dentures, the dentures contain clasps that connect to implants. The implants do not move, which means the dentures also stay firmly seated in place until they are unclasped. Because the dentures do not shift, you can freely smile, speak, and eat without concerns about the dentures shifting.
Implant-Supported Dentures May Deter Bone Loss
Once your natural teeth are pulled, bone loss in the jaws naturally occurs with the passage of time. The tooth roots are gone, and these roots normally help prevent the bones from deteriorating to an excessive degree. These changes in jaw bone structure can lead to more problems with ill-fitting, shifting, and unstable dentures because the height of the gum ridge sinks.
Dental implants actually mimic the same actions as the natural roots of teeth. These devices are screwed into the jaw bone, which stimulates jaw nerves and deters the degradation of the bone. Therefore, when you opt for implant-supported dentures, you are taking a step toward deterring issues with bone loss and changes in jaw structure.
Implant-Supported Dentures Support Quality of Life
A review of studies published by the Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dental Research found that implant-supported dentures enhanced the overall quality of life of patients compared to dentures. There are numerous reasons why patients experience a heightened quality of life with implant-supported dentures compared to traditional dentures, such as:
- Greater self-confidence in social interactions
- Less worry about dentures shifting when speaking
- An ability to eat a broader range of foods
- Less fear of smiling because the dentures appear more natural
Implant-Supported Dentures Better Restore Chewing Function
Dentures do allow you to chew food better than having no teeth at all. However, chewing with dentures takes some time to get used to. Additionally, the prosthetic teeth do not allow you to masticate (chew) the food into particles as small as you could do with stable teeth. For example, if you chew something crunchy like carrots, apples, or peanuts, you can grind those foods with dentures, but the particles do not get as small.
With implant-supported dentures, a greater level of biting and chewing power is restored. While the chewing power may not be exactly the same as your natural teeth, you can chew foods easier and break your food into smaller pieces as you chew. This change could potentially mean you will be able to swallow food easier and possibly even improve digestion.
For the right patient who is unhappy with their dentures, implant-supported dentures can be a life-changing treatment. If you believe you could be a good candidate for dentures supported by implants, reach out to Smiles By Hogan to schedule a consultation today. We will be happy to answer your questions about this life-changing denture solution.
