Dentures are the tried-and-true solution for tooth loss because they restore your smile’s appearance and functionality with a single treatment. But did you know your jaw starts thinning after teeth fall out? Eventually, it can become too flat for your prosthetics to form a tight enough suction to remain in place all day.
If you’re seeking a more reliable way to replace missing teeth, you might be a good candidate for implant dentures. However, it’s important to understand the pros and cons of this potential solution before proceeding. Continue reading to learn more!
What are Implant Dentures?
This treatment combines the resilience and strength of dental implants with the convenience of dentures and involves surgically placing anywhere from four to eight support poles in your jaw. It can take several months to recover because your mouth must generate enough new bone growth to completely envelop these biocompatible rods.
Then, your dentist will provide a set of carefully customized prosthetics made to anchor to your implants, providing a more permanent solution to tooth loss than traditional dentures.
What Are Some of the Benefits of Implant Dentures?
There are several excellent reasons to consider rebuilding your smile this way, such as:
- Maintain your jawbone. The support poles placed in your jaw function like roots and stimulate additional bone growth each time you bite down to keep your jaw active and healthy.
- Preserve your facial structure. A thinning jawbone can lead to sunken or hollowed cheeks and additional facial wrinkles, which implants can help avoid.
- Prevent additional tooth loss. Maintaining your jawbone allows it to continue serving as the structural foundation for your mouth.
- Enhance enunciation. Your new teeth are unlikely to slip out of place, so you can overcome any speech impediments you might have experienced after teeth went missing.
- Improved diet. Implants can return up to 80% or 90% of your original bite force so you can enjoy a wider variety of wholesome foods to support your overall and oral well-being.
Are There Drawbacks to Getting Implant Dentures?
It’s easy to see why so many experts recommend dental implants, but they aren’t always the best way to meet everyone’s unique needs. Some potential pitfalls with this treatment might include:
- Costs more up front. Dental implants are initially more expensive than alternatives, like traditional dentures or dental bridges. With that said, they usually are more resistant to damage, last longer, and don’t require adhesives, soaking solutions, or other accessories, so you might save money in the long run.
- May require additional procedures. If your jawbone is too frail, you might require an additional bone graft surgery to bulk it up, which requires additional months of recovery.
- Involves oral surgery. Any oral surgery comes with some risks, such as a chance of developing an infection. Fortunately, the dental implant procedure has an incredibly high success rate of more than 90%, so you’re unlikely to experience complications.
If you’re still unsure whether implant dentures are right for you, consulting your dentist is the best way to find out!
About the Practice
Patients at Jacksonville Dental Specialists benefit from two experts who are eager to help enhance your daily life by improving your oral health. Dr. Nawrocki, a board-certified prosthodontist, and Dr. Aguila, aboard-certified periodontist, collaborate to provide various complex procedures to help you build and maintain the healthiest, most beautiful version of your smile. They have the advanced training and state-of-the-art equipment necessary to place dental implants in the office, and then provide resilient, lifelike restorations. You can request an appointment on the website or call (904) 683-4781.