Achieve A More Natural & Confident Bite
Dentures are quick and convenient, but they’re not always the most secure option. If your teeth are falling out and you don’t feel confident smiling, it might be time to consider implants. The good news is that you don’t have to replace every single missing tooth with individual dental implants. Our Moses Lake implant dentist, Dr. Briel Loiseau offers implant-supported dentures as a more secure alternative to traditional dentures.
What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?
Implant-supported dentures or overdentures are denture restorations that are held in place by dental implants instead of suction or adhesive. The posts allow our implant dentist to secure the dentures in place, keeping them stable and in your mouth where they belong. Best of all, the implants can provide unmatched health and aesthetic benefits that non-implant restorations can’t.
Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures
- Easy Maintenance – Implant-supported dentures are easy to maintain and care for, simply clean them as directed and see your dentist regularly.
- Affordability – Overdentures are often much more affordable than singular dental implants. Your local implant dentist can also secure your old dentures with dental implants, saving you money on your restorations.
- Oral Health Benefits – Implants provide oral health benefits that non-implant restorations can’t including jawbone regeneration, prevention of gum disease and misalignment, and protection against choking and diabetes.
- Lifelike – These stable restorations are designed to look and function like your natural smile.
- Permanence – While you’ll need to replace your denture restoration every seven to ten years, the implants themselves can last 20 years to a lifetime with proper oral hygiene and regular dental exams.
Types of Implant-Supported Dentures
Ball Attachment
Ball attachment or O-ring implant-supported dentures are secured by a mere two implants. These implants are topped with two O-ring configurations, which allow you to snap your dentures in and out as needed.
Our implant dentist highly recommends ball attachment for patients with extensive loss of jawbone density. O-ring implant-supported dentures put less pressure on the jawbone. This may eliminate the need for supplemental procedures such as bone grafting with patients who have experienced advanced loss of jawbone density (resorption).
Bar Attachment
Bar attachment implant-supported dentures are secured using two-to four implants which are inserted into the jaw bone at an angle. Utilizing this dental placement technique increases the load-bearing capability of the implants, making them much more stable. As with O-ring implant-supported dentures, the extra stability bar attachment overdentures provide may allow patients with advanced resorption to skip bone grafting.
Screw-Retained
Screw-retained implant-supported dentures are one of the most stable and permanent denture stabilization options. Also referred to as All-on-4, screw-retained dentures can only be put in and taken out by a dental professional. This means they stay in your mouth no matter what and cleaning them is no different than cleaning your normal teeth.
The Implant-Supported Dentures Process
Initial Consultation
Before Dr. Losieau can approve you for implant-supported dentures, we’ll have you attend an initial consultation at our Moses Lake dental office. During your initial consultation, your local implant dentist will examine your mouth to ensure your oral health is sufficient to support your dental implants. He’ll also review your medical history, ask you about your smile goals, and tell you about your other options so you can make an informed decision.
Designing Your Dentures
Once you’ve been approved for implant-supported dentures, we’ll take images and impressions of your mouth, gums, and any remaining teeth. These will serve as the blueprints for your overdentures as well as your temporary dentures.
Supplemental Procedures
To ensure your implant-supported dentures can be placed properly, you may have to undergo supplemental procedures beforehand. Supplemental procedures may include bone grafting or tooth extraction. These procedures can help make room for your dentures or build up your jawbone density to make you a better candidate for implant placement. Dr. Loiseau will either perform these procedures himself or refer you to an out-of-office specialist.
Implant Placement
Before your implants are placed and after any supplemental procedure, we’ll numb the future implant site with a local anesthetic. Once we’re sure you’re numb, your dentist will make small incisions into the gums where your implants will go. Then, he’ll insert your implants into these incisions.
Your implants will fuse to your jawbone through osseointegration. You can wear your temporary dentures while your implants heal, a process that usually takes three to six months.
Overdenture Design
When you return to Legacy Dental, we’ll take new impressions of your smile with your implants placed. These will be used to design your permanent overdentures and any of their corresponding parts such as O-rings and bars.
Installing Your Implant-Supported Dentures
Dr. Loiseau will check the fit and feel of your dentures, making sure they’re to your liking before installation. You may need to return to Legacy Dental’s Moses Lake dental office for incremental adjustments until they fit perfectly. Once we’ve found that perfect fit, you can start enjoying a beautiful, secure new smile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The exact cost of your implant-supported dentures will depend on multiple factors. Deciding factors for costs often include how many teeth are being replaced, materials used, the type of implant-supported dentures you receive, and your insurance coverage. We encourage you to contact your insurance provider beforehand to confirm with them which costs they can cover.
While your dentures will likely need to be replaced every seven to 15 years due to normal wear and tear, the implants themselves can last 20 years to a lifetime. To ensure the longevity of your implants and your overdentures, you’ll need to practice proper oral hygiene and maintenance. Follow any instructions for overdenture care given to you by your implant dentist and see your implant dentist at least once every six months for dental exams.
Certain options for implant-supported dentures are removable. However, screw-retained overdentures can only be removed by a dental professional. Never try to remove your dentures by yourself unless they are meant to be removed and put back in without professional help.
Because exact oral health needs tend to vary from patient to patient, the answer depends on you and the specifics of your case. Implant-supported dentures offer benefits such as jawbone regeneration and stronger bite, which is why they’re such a popular option.
However, these benefits don’t necessarily mean that you should have implant-supported dentures installed. Your implant dentist should go over all of your options with you during your initial consultation so you can make the decision that’s best for you.
Schedule An Appointment With Your Moses Lake Implant Dentist
Patients who are looking for a more stable way to restore their smiles can still enjoy the convenience of dentures while also having the oral health benefits of implants. Legacy Dental offers implant-supported dentures to patients from Moses Lake and surrounding areas such as Ephrata, Mitchell, and Winchester, WA.
Get in touch with our Moses Lake dental office by dialing (509) 765-1748 and schedule an appointment with your local implant dentist. You can also click the request appointment button below and one of our friendly team members will get back to you shortly.