Denture Stabilization
Dentures are most commonly used as a dental replacement for elderly people, though younger people who lose their teeth might also rely on a removable prosthetic like a denture. If you’ve ever known anyone who wears dentures, however, you’re probably aware that they can be uncomfortable and inconvenient, causing painful sores as they rub on the gums and interfering with the ability to eat and speak effectively. With denture stabilization, dentists can eliminate these annoying side effects while securing the dentures safely and solidly in place.
What is Denture Stabilization?
When many people talk about dental implants, what they’re really referring to is the single-tooth prosthetic crowns that are affixed to a titanium post that’s surgically implanted in the jawbone. While these types of dental implant-supported crowns are still considered the optimal choice for replacing single teeth, the reality is that replacing multiple teeth with individual dental implants would be hugely expensive, not to mention invasive and inconvenient. Dentures are an affordable way to replace multiple missing teeth, but the aforementioned drawbacks are only some of the flaws that make dentures interfere with quality of life, oral health, and overall health. Using a minimal number of dental implant posts, dentists can secure an entire row of replacement teeth in the form of a denture, stabilizing the entire dentition with as few as four or six dental implants.
What Are the Benefits of Denture Stabilization?
In some cases, dentists can modify existing dentures, adding fixtures that can attach to dental implant posts; in other cases, implant dentists will fit and craft an entire row of natural-looking teeth, making a denture that’s designed to snap onto the implant posts. Dental implants tiny titanium posts that are surgically implanted in the jawbone. As the bone heals around the implant posts, it fuses to the post, creating a permanent bond that helps support the continued health and integrity of the bone while providing a solid anchor for the functions of the teeth. This means that chewing and biting down, instead of causing your denture to slip, will instead help your implant exercise the bone and facial muscles. Being able to comfortably, thoroughly chew a variety of nutritious foods helps patients maintain a healthy, balanced diet, supporting overall health, and it also helps improve digestion when foods are thoroughly chewed. In these ways and others, denture stabilization can support the overall health as it improves the oral health. Because stabilized dentures are permanent, patients are also spared the routine tasks of cleaning and soaking removable dentures and separately cleaning their gums, tongue and remaining teeth. Your dentist will review the proper techniques for cleaning your denture and your entire oral cavity, and regular visits to the dentist will allow them to check for any issues and thoroughly clean the denture, the attachment fixtures, and the gums and other oral tissues.
Why Should I Replace My Missing Teeth At All?
If you’ve lived with missing teeth for a while, you’ve probably learned some adaptation skills, and you may not even entertain the idea of replacing your teeth, thinking they’re too expensive or that treatment will take too much time. While you might not be bothered about your altered diet or smile, the reality is that teeth support the structures of the face, and, when there are no teeth, the facial structure deteriorates. Gradually, patients with missing teeth begin to appear prematurely old, and their ability to eat and speak becomes worse and worse. With the deterioration of these facial structures, oral hygiene becomes more challenging, and the issues compound, becoming more and more difficult to treat. When just one or two teeth are missing, leaving these teeth untreated can affect alignment of the dentition, potentially causing complications with hygiene and damaging the adjacent teeth; a removable bridge can provide a temporary solution for such situations. Removable dentures can solve some of the issues that arise from multiple missing teeth, but they can also put excess pressure on the jawbone and irritate the oral tissues, contributing to the deterioration of the bone and adversely affecting the oral health. Despite these concerns, removable dentures allow patients to replace multiple teeth at a reasonable cost. Denture stabilization combines some of the benefits of dental implants with some of the accessibility of dentures, creating a stable, comfortable, affordable restoration option that helps support bone health, oral health, and overall health.
How Do I Know if Denture Stabilization Will Work For Me?
Of course, a consultation with your dentist is the best way to learn about all your dental restoration options, including denture stabilization. Generally, any dental implant placement requires that the patient be in good health and have healthy gums and bone integrity. If there is any gum disease present, or if the gum tissue is compromised, supporting treatments may be needed before implants can be safely placed. For implant placement, the patient is anesthetized before the implant dentist makes a small incision in the gum and bone and places a titanium post into the jawbone; most stabilized dentures rely on anywhere from two to four individual implants to support an entire row of teeth. It can take anywhere from three to six months for the bone to fully fuse to the implant, and patients may be provided with a temporary prosthetic to use while the implant heals. After the bone has healed, the gums are opened up again so the dentist can attach an abutment, snap, or bar to the implant. Two common types of stabilized dentures are ball-retained and bar-retained; these different types of retaining fixtures are used to affix the stabilized denture in place. The gum tissue is given a couple of weeks to heal around the attachment fixture, and then, the denture is secured to the attachment and the process is complete.
What’s My Next Step?
Call your dentist today if your denture is interfering with your ability to enjoy a confident, comfortable life, and know that mouth sores and inflamed gums could be a thing of your past. Inquiring about denture stabilization could lead to a future of convenient cleaning, confident speech, and chewing with relish as you enjoy your permanent solution to your missing teeth.
