You may have heard about devices called implant-supported dentures, but do you know what they are used for? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 26% of Americans have lost all teeth by age 74. Reasons for tooth loss this drastic can stem from all sorts of issues, such as tooth decay, physical injuries or serious medical conditions. For those without teeth or who are missing a large number, implant-supported dentures can provide a lifelike replacement.
An implant-supported denture is like a traditional denture in the sense that it covers a row of exposed gums with artificial teeth for the purposes of talking and chewing. However, unlike a traditional denture, implants are fused to the jawbone and can connect to dentures, providing much more support for replacement teeth.
On a bar-retained denture, a metal strip that follows the curve of the jaw is attached to two to five implants that have been fused into the jawbone. Clips are fitted to the bar and/or the denture for easy removal and reattachment.
For these dentures, each implant in the jawbone holds a metal attachment that fits into another attachment on the denture like a jigsaw puzzle. Most of the time, the attachments on the implants are ball-shaped, fitting into holes on the denture.
Every case is different, but the process for installing implant-supported dentures can take anywhere from four to six months to complete. Many steps are involved, and appointments with multiple dental professionals may be necessary.
Before any work is done, a consultation with either a specialist or a dentist with specific training is scheduled. Here, the dental professional reviews the patient’s medical history, makes models of the teeth and gums and takes X-rays of oral structures. The results of this appointment tell the surgeon where to place implants and the potential impact on sinuses or nerves.
If the patient does not currently wear dentures, the dentist makes a temporary set until the implant-supported denture is placed. Getting a temporary denture can delay the process by several weeks, but having a set of dentures is necessary for the dentist to determine the best position for the teeth in the final model.
Once the dentist is ready to operate, a series of surgeries are conducted to place the implant-supported dentures in the mouth. During the first surgery, an incision is made into the gums over where each implant will be placed. A hole is drilled into these incisions down to the jawbone. Finally, the implants are placed in each hole. Months later, the mouth should be fully healed and ready for the second phase of surgery. Here, caps are placed over each implant to help the gums heal properly. After another few weeks of rest, the caps are replaced with abutments, and then the dentures are crafted and given to the patient.
Teeth must be taken care of properly to keep them healthy in the long run. However, should too many teeth fall out as one ages, implant-supported dentures can be used to restore a beautiful smile.
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