Replacing Dentures with Dental Implants

Dentures are a very effective solution for replacing lost teeth. For many people, wearing dentures is no problem. However, for others, they can present issues, especially after several years of use. Oftentimes, the fit will deteriorate over the years, causing them to be difficult to keep in place comfortably or even to start rubbing on the gums. This might lead to problems with use when eating and speaking and could potentially lead to an embarrassing social situation. If you are no longer satisfied with your dentures – whether they are full dentures or partials – dental implants may be a good alternative for you.

Benefits of Dental Implants

Most often, dental implants are used to replace individual missing teeth. They can also be used to replace full rows of teeth. If you would like to continue wearing your dentures, the dental implants can be fitted to act as stabilizers, holding the dentures in place via special attachments. This means that you will still be able to remove the dentures regularly in order to clean them. This can be an effective compromise between the full implant treatment and using dentures on their own, as it only requires the need to fit a relatively low number of implants to hold dentures firmly in place.

Patients who want to get rid of their dentures altogether might choose to have dental implants placed along with a full, natural-looking arch of teeth. In that case, the dental implants are placed to hold a bridge that can be firmly screwed or cemented on top of them. The dental prosthetic in this situation can only be removed by a dentist if any maintenance is necessary, but they can provide a more stable base, resulting in a more comfortable fit and a wider range of usage. With this option, more foods can be enjoyed without the worry of limiting yourself to only what the dentures can handle. This method does require a greater number of implants to be fitted but is worth discussing with your dentist.