|
If you have lost all of your teeth, or even a few, whether it is from periodontal disease, tooth decay or injury, dentures can replace your missing teeth and restore your smile. By replacing your missing teeth, your health and appearance will benefit greatly. Today, dentures are designed to be more comfortable and functional than they were in the past. They are similar in appearance to natural teeth, allowing your smile to improve as well as your facial appearance. Consult your Newton cosmetic dentist today to decide which kind of denture is best for you and your teeth. What are Implant Retained Dentures? An implant-supported denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to dental implants while a regular denture rests on the gums and is not supported by implants. When a person does not have any teeth in their jaw, but has enough bone in the jaw to support implants, an implant supported denture can be used. With an implant supported denture, there is a special attachment that snaps onto the implants. Typically, implant supported dentures are created for the lower jaw. This is because regular dentures tend to be less stable when used on the lower jaw. Usually, a regular denture made to fit an upper jaw is quite stable on its own and doesn't need the extra support offered by implants. However, you can receive an implant-supported denture in both the upper and lower jaw. It is important to remove your implant-supported denture daily to clean the denture and your gums. As with regular dentures, you should not sleep with them in at night. How Does it Work? There are two types of implant-supported dentures: bar-retained and ball-retained. In both cases, the denture will be made of an acrylic base that will resemble gums and porcelain teeth that look like your natural teeth are attached to the base. Two implants, at least, are needed for the support of dentures. Bar-retained dentures require a thin metal bar that follows the curve of your jaw attached to two to five implants that have been placed in your jawbone. Clips or other types of attachments are fitted to the bar, the denture or both. The denture is then able to fit over the bar and is securely clipped into place by the attachments. Ball-retained dentures are when each implant in the jawbone holds the metal attachment that fits into another attachment on the denture. In many cases, the attachments on the implants are ball-shaped, and fit into sockets on the denture. In some cases, the denture holds the ball-shaped attachments and the implants hold the sockets. Caring for Your Implant Retained Dentures Each night, you will have to remove your denture, as well as for cleaning. When cleaning your denture, make sure to clean around the attachments carefully. Your dentist in Newton will test all of the parts of your new denture to make sure they are secure, but even if your denture is stable, it can move slightly when chewing. This slight movement in your denture can cause the denture to rub against your gums, which can cause sore spots. Your dentist will check your gums and also the way your top and bottom teeth come together after insertion of the denture. The clip or other attachments on the bar-retained denture typically will need to be replaced every 6 to 12 months. Consult your dentist in Newton today if you are missing some or all of your teeth. Dentures are not for everyone, but with proper consultation, your Newton dentist will find the best treatment plan for your smile. Missing teeth can be a thing of the past with proper dental hygiene and dentures.
Sean Hartmen writes for leading dentist in Newton, Dr. Robert Csillag. His small family oriented practice focuses on personalized care in a technologically advanced environment. Dr. Csillag, Newton cosmetic dentist, provides an array of services such as CEREC – one visit porcelain crowns, dental implants, dentures, crowns and bridges.
|
