Traditional dentures can be uncomfortable and embarrassing. For some, they make it hard to eat, while for others, it can be hard to talk. Dentures can be so frustrating that even public figures who need them will sometimes avoid wearing them altogether. Take Shane MacGowan, the brilliant songwriter famously known for his brazen toothlessness. Before finally giving in and getting a set, he may have muttered something like, “Whatdyoo meaneye need denn-ners youcan unnerstan me fine, mate.” Even with his dentures, MacGowan remained notoriously hard to understand. His experience, and that of many others, might leave you wondering: could denture implants solve the many problems traditional dentures create?
Dr. Ruedi Tillmann of the Utah Denture & Implant Center believes so. For decades, he has been helping denture wearers achieve greater stability and comfort with dental implants for dentures.
Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures are a simple and cost-effective solution to toothlessness. People have been wearing dentures for centuries. And for many, they work just fine.
Others, however, experience discomfort or instability with their dentures. But why does this happen when your dentures are custom-made to fit your mouth? Over time, dentures tend to loosen. They can slip and rock on the gums, causing painful sores and uneven bite distribution. The result is often a general dip in your quality of life. If you’re in constant pain, you won’t want to do much of anything, and if you can’t eat a diverse diet, you can even suffer from malnutrition.
Unfortunately, traditional dentures don’t maintain their initial fit forever. When you lose even a single tooth, your jawbone shrinks because it’s no longer stimulated by your tooth roots. This is a natural process called resorption. But as your mouth changes, even well-fitting dentures can begin to slip and shift.
Those dealing with jawbone loss will likely notice:
- Bite issues
- Facial appearance changes
- Headaches and jaw pain
- Wrinkles around the mouth
- Loose or shifting dentures
To prevent jawbone loss, you need to replace the missing tooth roots. Denture implants do this using small titanium posts that fuse with your jawbone and help keep it healthy.
The snag? To get traditional implants, you can’t have lost too much bone mass. If you’ve experienced significant resorption, a dentist may still be able to place implants by first doing a bone graft. Unfortunately, this sort of procedure makes the implant process more expensive and requires a lengthy recovery period before implant placement.
Benefits of Mini Denture Implants
Let’s say you aren’t eligible for traditional implants or you want to avoid bone grafting. The good news is that you’re likely a candidate for mini dental implants. This is actually great news for the 20% of people over 75 who are completely toothless. Because mini implants have more flexible eligibility requirements, they’re an increasingly common way to secure floating dentures.
Mini implants, like their traditional counterpart, use titanium posts inserted into your jaw via your gums. But unlike traditional implants, mini dental implants don’t require incisions. Instead, we make a tiny hole and gently position the implant into the bone.
After placing your implants, Dr. Tillmann will fit you with a temporary prosthetic so that you’re never without teeth. You’ll walk out of the mini implant procedure with a full smile, and walk back in again a few weeks later when the denture lab has finished making your custom prosthetic.
And that’s just one of the advantages of mini implants. There are plenty of other benefits, such as:
- Minimally invasive procedure: Mini implants are so slim that we don’t have to make incisions in your gums to place them.
- Speedy recovery: The minimally invasive nature of the mini implant procedure means you can expect less discomfort and a quicker recovery.
- Reduced cost: They’re less costly than traditional implants, especially since mini implant patients usually don’t require a bone grafting procedure before placement.
- Quick results: Mini implants are immediately stable and bond to your jawbone faster than traditional implants, allowing for much quicker final results.
- Efficient treatment: You can get a full set of implants in a single visit.
On top of this, patients report mini implant success rates of 95%.
Types of Denture Implants
There are several different types of implant denture systems available:
- Overdenture: Also known as a snap-in denture, this prosthetic utilizes 4 to 6 mini dental implants for the lower arch and 6 to 8 for the upper arch.
- Semi-removable denture: Also known as a hybrid denture, this prosthetic can be removed by Dr. Tillmann during your cleaning appointments. You otherwise don’t remove it. It’s anchored to your jaw by 6 to 10 mini dental implants.
- Non-removable denture: This is a zirconia prosthetic—typically made without acrylic gums—that Dr. Tillmann permanently cements onto 10 to 12 mini implants.
Dr. Tillmann will help you decide which denture implant is right for you during your free consultation.
Contact Us Today To Make Denture Discomfort a Thing of the Past!
You really and truly do not have to suffer with your dentures if they’re not working for you. Again, they’re fine for some people. And that’s nice, that’s good, for those people. But if your life continues to be negatively impacted by ill-fitting dentures, consider visiting us to discuss denture implants.
We offer a free consultation that includes an exam, a 3D scan, and a substantive chat with Dr. Tillmann geared toward determining the right course of action for you. Contact us today to learn more!
