Pros and Cons of Implant-Supported Dentures

Thanks to technology and innovations, modern dentistry has provided a myriad of dental solutions to care for the oral health of patients all over the world. The issue of losing teeth prematurely can now be combated with more than one dental solution.

Dentists in Smith field, Utah, use different oral appliances, including implant-supported dentures, for restorative treatments in dentistry.

What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

They are oral appliances used for replacing missing teeth. Unlike other oral appliances in restorative and cosmetic dentistry, implant-supported dentures feature two different types of oral appliances.

They incorporate both dentures and dental implants. Technically, the goal of your attending dentist is to use dentures to replace all your missing teeth. However, the use of dental implants is necessitated to improve the effectiveness of the treatment.

While implants can be used to support full dentures, they are commonly employed to support partial dentures. In either case, the implants provide a sturdy and stable foundation for which the artificial teeth are supported.

How Do Implant-Supported Dentures Work?

The first thing is for your dentist to examine your oral cavity and determine the kind of restorative treatment that would work for you. After the exam, your dentist will identify the number of teeth missing and the strategy to use to replace the missing teeth.

Ideally, a dental implant should be placed at every site you have lost a tooth. However, it is unreasonable to have an implant for each of your missing teeth, especially since the procedure involved is invasive. Instead, your dentist will use the all-on-4 technique to strategically place implants on your jawbone. The placement ensures an even distribution of the metal posts in your mouth in such a way as to provide ample support to the dentures that will be placed afterward.

Advantages of Implant-Supported Dentures

1. Permanent – since dental implants are installed in your jawbone, they cannot be removed unless through another surgical procedure. In that sense, implant-supported dentures offer a permanent solution to tooth loss.
2. Unmatched stability and sturdiness – the metal posts supporting the dentures provide sufficient stability even for back teeth. Some patients even claim that the experience is like that of having natural teeth.
3. Durability – since you do not have to keep removing them, these dentures can serve you for a long time with minimal wear and tear to require changing them. Technically, you can have them for between 5-8 years before you need a change of dentures.
4. They are lifelike – this is particularly the case for patients who opt for custom-fitted dentures to go with their implanted oral implants. The smile you have afterward is usually lifelike and as close to a natural smile as possible.
5. Cosmetic advantage – compared to having gaps in between your teeth from the lost teeth, having implant-supported dentures has an incredible aesthetic value. You will enjoy improved self-confidence and a beautiful smile to go with it.

Disadvantages of Implant-Supported Dentures

1. They are expensive – compared to typical traditional dentures, the ones supported by oral implants are expensive. The procedure involved in installing the metal posts increases the cost of the entire treatment.
2. Surgery is mandatory – the only way to install dental implants in your jawbone is through a surgical process. This makes the process different from other restorative treatments that are rather non-invasive.
3. They are not for everyone – for dental implants to be installed in your jawbone, jawbone density is needed. A healthy jawbone is the only certainty that your mouth will be able to hold the oral implants in place, not to mention be strong enough to hold dentures over the metal posts.
4. The risk of infection – since the procedure of installing dental implants is a surgical process, and you stand the risk of infection at the implantation site. This is so much the case if your wound does not heal properly before you wear the dentures.

Should You Get Implant-Supported Dentures?

When you are ready to have your lost teeth replaced, be sure, you talk to a dentist first. This way, they have a close look at your oral cavity and determine the best oral appliance for your mouth. Implant-supported dentures come highly recommended by experts since they offer a permanent alternative to replacing lost teeth. If this is your dental health goal, be fearless about getting this treatment as it will fully restore your smile and your overall oral health.