If you’re weighing your options for replacing missing teeth, you might consider traditional dentures or dental implants. But you have a third option: implant-retained dentures.
Our team of implant surgeons at Northern Virginia Oral, Maxillofacial & Impact Surgery combines all of the perks of dentures with the strength and stability of implants with implant-retained dentures.
Are implant-retained dentures right for you? In this blog, we’ll share what these dentures are and how they can benefit you.
Understanding implant-retained dentures
Implant-retained dentures are dentures supported by implants. This combination highlights the perks of both implants and traditional dentures. Let’s first take a look at the two components of implant-retained dentures:
Implants
Dental implants are surgically-implanted prosthetic teeth that consist of a titanium post, an abutment, and a crown. The implant post actually fuses with your bone (in a process called osseointegration) to form a strong, sturdy foundation for your teeth.
Note: if you’re getting a single implant, a crown serves as your artificial tooth. If you’re getting implant-supported dentures, you won’t have a single crown. The implant will support your dentures instead.
Dentures
Dentures are removable prosthetic teeth and gums that conform to your mouth. Traditional dentures rely on suction, well-fitting prosthetics, and adhesive to stay in place.
Combining the best of both worlds
If you’re missing a full row of teeth, you don’t need a dental implant to replace each tooth. Implant-retained dentures rely on the titanium posts to anchor full arches of teeth. Four dental implants on the bottom of your mouth support your lower dentures, and four implants on the top of your mouth support your upper dentures. You’ll get the full coverage of dentures with the sturdiness of implants. No more sliding dentures!
Implant-retained dentures versus traditional dentures
Not all dentures are created equally. Implant-retained dentures:
- Are more secure than traditional dentures
- Prevent bone atrophy (which can happen with traditional dentures)
- Promote a more youthful facial structure
- Don’t require adhesive
- Won’t slip and slide
Implant-retained dentures offer another advantage over traditional dentures: there’s no need for the roof of your mouth (your hard palette) to be covered. This means that you’ll be able to taste your food better and judge the temperature of food easier.
Replacing your missing teeth
If you’re interested in implant-retained dentures, we offer All-on-4® implants.
Missing teeth can make it harder to enjoy your meals and feel confident in your smile. All-on-4 implants can restore the function of your mouth and enhance the appearance of your smile. And the best part? You won’t need to wait weeks for new dentures. We can place your All-on-4’s in just one day.
To learn more about All-on-4’s or to find out if they’re right for you, call our Burke, Reston, or Alexandria office today. Don’t forget: you can also request an appointment online.