When a ship pulls up to a harbor, it needs an anchor to stay put. Otherwise, the ever-changing tides will gradually draw the ship away from the shore! Surprisingly, dentures work similarly. These prosthetics are “the ship”, resting on your jawbone, which is “the water.” While your denture may originally stay secure on your jawbone, it will begin to shift around on your gums without something to anchor it in place. Loose dentures make everyday functions like eating and speaking more difficult. Fortunately, there are more secure alternatives to floating dentures! Using dental implants to anchor your prosthetic, we can secure your smile to your jawbone.
Why Do Dentures Loosen Over Time?
Traditional dentures are crafted using impressions of your natural smile. When your prosthetic first arrived, it likely fit perfectly in the contours of your mouth. But unfortunately, this fit isn’t made to last.
Without tooth roots to stimulate it, your jawbone will gradually lose mass and volume. As your jaw shrinks and your denture remains its original size, you may find that your prosthetic no longer fits!
Loose dentures cause a variety of issues, including:
- Gum irritation: Floating dentures rock with every movement. Eventually, the constant shifting of the base against your gums will cause irritation. In some cases, loose dentures even cause denture sores, making wearing your prosthetic painful.
Infection risks: Because your denture base shifts around while you chew, food particles can become trapped underneath it. Without prompt care, these trapped foods increase your risk of infection and disease.- Eating difficulties: Chewing requires a certain amount of force to break down foods. Loose dentures typically lack that strength, causing patients to cut certain foods out of their diet. Not only will this stop you from eating foods you love, but drastic changes in diet may lead to malnutrition if you’re missing out on important nutrients.
Only dental implants stop bone loss in its tracks, effectively replacing your tooth roots while anchoring your denture.
Alternatives to Dentures With Dental Implants
Dental implants are titanium screws that we secure in your jawbone to replace missing teeth. Thanks to their biocompatible design, these implants interact with your bone, securing in place to create a stable foundation. Once embedded in your jawbone, implants take over the role of a tooth root by securing your smile while also stimulating your jaw!
However, conventional dental implants require ample bone structure for support. Because tooth loss leads to bone loss, patients often lack sufficient bone to stabilize an implant. To address this issue, and the many other concerns patients have about conventional implant treatment, St. Apollonia Dental offers mini dental implants!
These small titanium posts are about half the size of conventional implants, requiring much less bone. Additionally, they feature a unique one-piece design that makes placement much simpler! To place mini implants, we simply create a small pilot hole and screw the implant in place in one appointment. Then, thanks to their fast-acting stability, these implants can anchor a temporary denture while your final version is crafted.
Thanks to their small stature, one-piece structure, and simple placement process, mini implants are much more affordable than their conventional counterparts. To discover if you’re eligible for this innovative alternative to conventional implants, schedule a free consultation with us! There, we will assess your smile and take X-rays to determine which implant system best serves your needs.
Our Mini Implant Dentures
If you’re eligible for mini implant treatment, there are a few dentures to choose from, such as:
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Snap-in dentures are fully removable. Snap-in dentures: Similar to traditional dentures, this prosthetic has a denture base that rests on your jaw. However, it also uses 4 to 8 mini implants for support! With these implants in place, we can remove some of the bulky upper denture plate to create a more comfortable fit. Additionally, Snap-in dentures are removable, allowing you to “snap” your dentures in and out of your mouth with ease.
- Semi-permanent roundhouse bridges: Unlike a traditional denture, a roundhouse bridge doesn’t need a large base. Instead, it uses only a small amount of artificial gum to fill out your smile, relying on 6 to 10 mini implants for support. By following the horseshoe-like curve of your jaw, these prosthetics are a natural-looking solution to tooth loss. And, with all of the implants holding it in place, your denture is only removed during routine dental visits, and never by you.
- Permanent roundhouse bridges: For those looking to replicate their natural teeth as closely as possible, we recommend permanent roundhouse bridges. Like semi-permanent roundhouses, these restorations don’t require the big, bulky denture base. In fact, this denture may not even need a base! Instead, the arch of natural-looking teeth secures directly on your implants to create an incredibly realistic smile. Thanks to the 10 to 12 mini implants it uses for support, a permanent roundhouse bridge is cemented in place, never to come out.
Find Implant Alternatives to Your Loose Dentures!
Traditional dentures are like an unanchored ship on rocky waves. Without something to hold them in place, they will slide around on your jaw, making everyday functions much more difficult! But by using dental implants for support, we can secure your denture, providing a stable solution.
To discover if you’re eligible for mini dental implant alternatives to your loose dentures, book a free consultation at St. Apollonia Dental today!
