What Is An Implant-Supported Denture?
You may be familiar with traditional dentures, which are devices that rest on your gums and can slide off if one is not careful. Implant-supported dentures are the superior option because of how they can snap onto special attachments upon dental implants that we have placed solidly within your mouth.
Because we are using dental implants to provide support for your dentures, we usually recommend this option if you have enough bone in your jaw for us to affix the implants on to. It is also worth noting that regular dentures usually fit quite well for the upper jaw, making implant-supported dentures a more appealing alternative for the lower jaw only.
How Do Implant-Supported Dentures Function?
After we have determined your suitability for dental implants, we next want to decide which type of implant-supported dentures will fit best with your needs. Both types are created with an acrylic base that is designed to mirror the look of your gums along with porcelain or acrylic teeth to match the form and function of your natural teeth.
What makes implant-retained dentures distinct is the metal bar they use to follow the curve of your jaw with dental implants attached here and there along with it. The denture fits easily on the bar, snapping seamlessly onto these dental implants. Ball-retained dentures feature studs attached to each dental implant in your jaw that will align with and fit into the sockets on your denture.
How Do I Maintain My Implant-Supported Dentures?
Though the easy snap-on functionality of implant-supported dentures is convenient and highly appealing, they will still need as much maintenance and care as their traditional alternatives if you want them to last. We recommend removing your dentures on a daily basis to cleanse them, your teeth, and your gums.
Once removed from your mouth, brush the dentures gently to clean away food particles and avoid staining. Before you put them back in, make sure to brush your mouth to both keep your gums healthy and to guarantee that plaque will not cause erosion on your teeth while you wear them. Lastly, when you are not actively using your dentures, we recommend you place them in cool water or a cleanser soaking solution so that they do not dry out.
Are you interested in learning more about implant-supported dentures? Give us a call at (503) 647-4565. We are happy to help you learn more about your smile!
