Traditional vs. Implant-Supported Dentures
For patients wanting to replace an entire arch in their smile, it can be difficult choosing between conventional dentures and the implant-supported option. While both are effective in restoring appearance, those supported by dental implants are more secure and help maintain healthy jaw tissue.
Understanding the benefits of each option will help you determine which prosthetic will work best for you.
Improving Your Smile with Conventional Prosthetics
When you are missing all of your teeth, traditional dentures help you regain aesthetics and functionality. These cost-effective dental appliances are custom made to comfortably fit in your smile but are easy to clean, maintain, or reline.
It’s important for your dentures to be properly crafted to ensure stability and prevent them from shifting out of place. These restorations rely on dental adhesives and suction between the denture and the soft tissue to create a tight seal that holds them in place. When properly outfitted, your dentures can provide quality results for years.
This option does limit patients in some ways, however. Particularly in the lower jaw, relying on adhesives and suction for stability can prove difficult, since the mandible frequently moves when speaking or chewing food. Traditional dentures also don’t support jaw bone health, as the absence of the tooth root causes resorption.
The Health Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures
Implant-supported dentures provide the same benefits as their traditional counterparts but offer additional support to your oral health. Securing a restoration with a dental implant is the only option that replaces the entire tooth, from root to crown. The titanium post acts in place of the tooth root, providing stimulation to the surrounding jawbone tissue, keeping bone volume healthy.
The procedure involves separate stages, the first of which is having your dentist surgically place the implant posts. Once the treated areas have had proper time to heal, the next step involves securing the dentures to the posts, preventing you the embarrassment of having them slip out of place at the wrong time.
Not everyone is an appropriate candidate for implant-supported dentures right away. If you lack the necessary bone density to stabilize the implant posts, a bone grafting procedure can be performed to help increase the odds of successful osseointegration.
Contact Us Today in Dayton
At VanMeter & Williams Dentistry, our team offers traditional and implant-supported dentures to our patients living or working in Dayton and the surrounding communities. If you are interested in these beneficial teeth replacement options, call and speak with one of our dedicated dental professionals today.