Dental Implants for Denture Replacement
Milwaukie, OR
Traditional dentures have existed for hundreds of years. George Washington probably had the most famous pair of dentures, made from cow and walrus teeth. While denture technology has certainly developed since those early days, the fact remains that many denture wearers frequently complain of discomfort, pain, slippage or movement, inability to eat desired foods, and an overall drop in confidence.
Recently, dental implants have become the clear treatment of choice for those missing all of their teeth on one or both arches. Unlike traditional dentures, dental implant dentures are secured, so the need for denture adhesive is eliminated. Dental implant supported dentures also allow you to speak with ease and chew most foods without the risk of denture slippage; tasting the authentic flavor of the foods you eat. Finally, only dental implant supported dentures will also support the structure of your jawbone, preserving it from the shrinking of your jawline that is often seen in long-term denture wearers.
Did you know: By age 74, 26% of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth?
Implant Supported Dentures
Implant supported dentures can be completed with as few as four implants. The All-On-4® Treatment Concept technique is one used by Dr. Mike Regan and can improve your smile and your experience eating foods you love for years to come. Contact Dr. Regan today to learn more.
Implant Supported Bridge
The beauty of an implant supported bridge comes from our ability to restore missing or decayed teeth without affecting any of your natural, healthy teeth. Traditional bridgework uses adjacent healthy teeth by placing crowns that then "bridge" the gap and fill in any missing teeth. Implant supported bridges can also span a greater gap and create a natural, beautiful smile.
What Are Dental Implants for Denture Replacement?
Dental implants are small screws designed to replace the root of a tooth, and restore the physical appearance and the chewing function of patients with partial or full tooth loss. In the case of full tooth loss, as few as four dental implants can be used to permanently secure an entire arch of teeth.
To replace an entire arch of teeth, a series of titanium dental implants are first inserted into the bone. These implants serve as replacements for the roots of the missing teeth and are designed to seamlessly bond with the surrounding bone. Permanent dentures are then affixed to these implants. The result is a perfectly formed smile without the downside of traditional dentures.
Benefits of Dental Implant Supported Dentures
Prior to dental implant technology, patients missing all of their teeth had limited options. Traditional dentures are designed to be removable and they are typically held in place with messy, expensive denture adhesive cream. This solution has several drawbacks, including:
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Traditional dentures are not fixed in place, and they tend to move and slide within the mouth during daily use and can even fall out. Not only does this impact the functionality of your teeth, but more importantly can impact your self-confidence and overall lifestyle. Denture wearers oftentimes have difficulty eating, singing, and generally being active. |
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Dentures rest directly on the gums, which can be very uncomfortable and even painful for daily wear. |
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Upper dentures typically cover the roof of your mouth with plastic, which can cause discomfort and significantly limit your ability to enjoy food. |
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Traditional dentures are a surface-level device, and as a result, the jawbone where the root of the tooth once was begins to dissolve and can cause the shrinkage of the jawline that is often seen with patients who have worn dentures long-term. |
Using dental implants to support a permanent denture or bridge address these drawbacks and provide significant benefits beyond this legacy treatment, including:
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Dental implants are fixed in place and do not move around, resulting in a permanent set of replacement teeth that function almost exactly like natural teeth. |
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Dental implant supported dentures can return up to 95% of your natural biting and chewing capability, versus just 25% with traditional dentures. This gives you the ability to chew and eat all kinds of foods without worrying about your teeth. |
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Dental implants look and feel like natural teeth. You can have the complete confidence to eat, speak, sing, laugh, be active, and do all the things you do with natural teeth, knowing that you have a beautiful smile and fully functioning teeth. |
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Dental implants address the problem of bone loss. The implants are fixed into the bone, and when you eat, the implants exercise the bone and stimulate the growth and health of the bone. |
To learn more about replacing your denture with dental implants, contact our office at 503-654-8283. |
