IMPLANT-SUPPORTED DENTURES OFFER STABILITY AND LONGEVITY
If you suffer from significant tooth loss but wish to avoid traditional removable dentures, implant-supported dentures can provide you with a stable, long-lasting solution. Our team uses advanced technology and dental techniques to provide you with implant-supported dentures that look and feel natural, helping to restore the aesthetics and function of your smile. At our practice in Denver, NC, Dr. Frank Avason III and Dr. Alyssa Wolff can perform the entire procedure in house to ensure you receive the highest quality care throughout your treatment. In addition we support and offer family dentistry that addresses oral health at every stage of life. Children have very different dental needs than adults, and qualified family dentists deliver comprehensive oral care from baby teeth to permanent teeth. We also offer both sedation dentistry and financing options to help make this vital treatment more comfortable and affordable.
The Most Secure Fit in Dentistry
Implant-supported dentures are the most secure, dependable, and long-lasting solution to full-arch replacement. These restorations are affixed onto dental implants, which are titanium posts that are surgically placed in the jawbone. Over the course of three to six months, these implants fuse with your jawbone to create a strong foundation for implant-supported restorations. Unlike traditional dentures, which can slip out of place when you speak or chew, implant-supported dentures always remain firmly in place. Although your denture may still require replacing, with proper care, implants can last a lifetime. An implant-supported denture is a type of overdenture that is supported by and attached to implants. A regular denture rests on the gums, and is not supported by implants.
The Initial Consultation and How Does It Work?
During your consultation, we will evaluate your medical and dental history before examining your smile. Using state-of-the-art technology such as digital x-rays, an intraoral camera, and a cone beam scanner, we can review detailed images of your teeth, soft tissue, and jawbone to determine if you are a candidate for implant-supported dentures. Using these scans, we can design a custom treatment plan suited to your needs and goals. 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 look like gums. Porcelain or acrylic teeth that look like natural teeth are attached to the base. Both types of dentures need at least two implants for support.
- Bar-retained dentures A thin metal bar that follows the curve of your jaw is 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 fits over the bar and is securely clipped into place by the attachments.
- Ball-retained dentures (stud-attachment dentures)Each implant in the jawbone holds a metal attachment that fits into another attachment on the denture. In most cases, the attachments on the implants are ball-shaped (“male” attachments), and they fit into sockets (“female” attachments) on the denture. In some cases, the denture holds the male attachments and the implants hold the female ones.
Implant Placement
Avason Family Dentistry has extensive experience placing implants that can last a lifetime. Depending on the unique structure of your jawbone, you may require between four and eight implants to support your full dental arch. During your dental implant surgery, your dentist will carefully embed the implants in your jaw and will then close the incision so your gums can properly heal. Next, our team will take impressions of your smile, which will be used to create your custom restorations. For the right candidates, Dr. Avason may recommend Teeth Tomorrow™ to provide you with a fixed, custom restoration just one day after your implant procedure. If you are not receiving this treatment, your dentist may provide you with temporary dentures to wear until your final implant-supported restorations are placed.
Your Final Restorations
During your next visit, your permanent restorations will be attached to the dental implants. To ensure your comfort, we will verify that the fit, feel, and appearance of your implant-supported dentures are to your liking.
Enjoy the Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures
When you receive your implant-supported dentures from Avason Family Dentistry, you can rest assured that your restorations will be made from the highest quality and most durable material. You can also experience benefits such as:
- Jawbone preservation: When teeth are lost, the jawbone can recede. Dental implants can prevent further bone atrophy at the site of a missing tooth, helping to protect you from additional damage and decay.
- Expanded diet: If you have missing teeth, eating and chewing certain foods can be challenging. These secure restorations afford you the freedom to eat any foods you choose.
- Confidence: Traditional removable dentures often slip out of place. Implant-supported dentures are fixed in the jaw, so you can eat, speak, and laugh without worrying about an embarrassing slip in public.
- Improved appearance and quality of life: Your restorations are designed to fit comfortably in your smile. As such, you can feel confident about your new and improved appearance.
- Not only do implant-supported dentures improve your self-esteem and ability to communicate clearly, but they can help to preserve your oral health and your general wellbeing.
