What You Need To Know About Implant-Supported Dentures

If you are missing most or all of your teeth, you may be thinking about getting dentures. However, instead of traditional dentures, consider implant-supported dentures. They have many advantages over traditional dentures. Check out these six important facts to help you decide if they are the right choice for you.  

Dental Implants Have Been Around for a While

You may be wary of implant-supported dentures, believing they are a new and experimental procedure, but that just isn't the case. The concept of modern dental implants began in 1952 when a Swedish professor discovered that titanium fuses to bone, which is what makes dental implants work. Because the titanium implant fuses to your jawbone, it creates a powerful and durable hold. By the 1970s, people who were missing a lot of teeth but couldn't tolerate dentures were getting dental implants.

They Have a High Success Rate

If you need more information that implant-supported dentures are a great option, look at the success rate. Dental implants have a success rate of up to 98 percent. Some factors that dictate whether the implant will be successful are out of your control. For example, some implants just don't fuse to the jawbone. However, many factors are within your control, such as bad dental hygiene and smoking. With proper care, however, an implant-supported dentures may last the rest of your life.

If You Have Gum Disease, Get it Under Control

In older adults, one of the leading causes of tooth loss is gum disease, so if you have a lot of missing teeth, it's likely you have periodontal disease. If you have uncontrolled gum disease, and you get a dental implant, the chance of failure increases, so many dentists will insist you reverse your gingivitis or get your periodontitis under control with proper cleaning and care.

They Stimulate the Jawbone

Your jawbone supports your teeth, but in turn, your teeth stimulate the jawbone, keeping it dense. When you have missing teeth, the jawbone shrinks and becomes weak. Overtime, as the bone continues to shift and shrink, it can actually affect the entire shape of the lower portion of your mouth. Traditional dentures sit on top of your gums, so as far as your jaw knows, you are still missing teeth. Implant-supported dentures, however, stimulate your jawbone because the titanium roots sit inside your jaw and fuse to the bone. This protects your jawbone and your entire face.

There Is a Shorter Learning Curve

When you get traditional dentures, you have to learn how to use them properly. As you do, they can easily fall out or shift when you laugh, talk and eat. Once your mouth muscles get the hang of working with the dentures, they'll move less often, but they're still not as secure as real teeth. There's a learning curve with implant-supported dentures too, but it isn't as complicated because the dentures are secure, so they can't fall out.

They Are Still Removable  

Single dental implants aren't removable. They are stuck in your mouth like natural teeth. However, implant-supported dentures are removable. They have to be, so you can clean them and your gums. The denture portion snaps onto the implants, which creates a tight hold for eating and talking. However, when you need to remove them for cleaning, you simply pop them off the implants and remove them.

If you have a lot of missing teeth, traditional dentures can give you a beautiful smile. However, implant-supported dentures aren't just cosmetic. They return the functionality you once had with real teeth. For more information about implant-supported dentures, contact a dentist in your area today.