Do you dread the idea of experiencing issues while talking due to dentures? Perhaps you worry about what your new diet will look like after getting traditional dentures. Fortunately, you don’t have to opt for traditional dentures that can slip and slide out of place.
Our team at EZ Dental Clinic in Bellevue, Washington, offers implant-supported dentures that have none of the downsides of traditional dentures. Here, we explain what makes these types of dentures special and describe who’s a good candidate for them.
As the name suggests, implant-supported dentures are sets of dentures fixed in place by small posts implanted in your jaw. These implants ensure that your dentures look natural and don’t slip around inside your mouth when you speak.
Another benefit of implant-supported dentures is the ability to eat your favorite foods and enjoy their full flavor. These types of prosthetic teeth are fixed to the implant posts; they don’t cover the roof of your mouth.
Also, because the implants are anchored into your jaw, each time you chew, pressure is applied on your gums and jawbone. In the absence of pressure, as with traditional dentures, the jawbone shrinks in size, changing the bone structure of your face. Implant-supported dentures reduce the rate at which you lose jawbone tissue, helping to maintain your bone health and facial structure.
Ideal candidates have experienced extensive tooth loss but still have enough gum tissue and jawbone to support the implant posts. You also must be willing to make a time investment: The implants may need three to four months to fuse to your jawbone before you can get fitted for your implant-supported dentures. In the meantime, you wear temporary dentures.
You can expect implant-supported dentures to last anywhere between 10 and 20 years. To prolong their lifespan, you should clean your dentures regularly, just as you would your natural teeth.
Tooth loss has a significant impact on self-esteem, especially in social situations. Fortunately, modern dentistry has made it easy for anyone to have a bright, good-looking smile, even if you’ve experienced significant tooth loss.
If we’ve piqued your curiosity, contact EZ Dental Clinic to schedule an appointment. In addition to implant-supported dentures, our team offers partial dentures, full dentures, and same-day dentures. Our experts can examine your gums and jawbone, and help you get started on your new smile.
