As far back as the 1800s, dentists have been using dental plates to restore smiles. These bulky plates were designed to cover the roof of your mouth and stay secure through suction. However, as the way we replaced missing teeth grew more complex and nuanced, the term dental plate no longer fit all dental appliances. Now we use the term ‘denture’! Dentures come in all different shapes and sizes, with different retention methods. While the old dental plate was tried and true, it’s usually outdated for patients seeking better stability and comfort. At St. Apollonia Dental, we recommend our patients ditch the dental plate and try an implant-supported denture!
Traditional Dental Plate Drawbacks
A dental plate most commonly refers to a traditional denture. This restoration is exactly what you picture when you hear the word denture: a big gum base with artificial teeth. These dentures use your jawbone for support and stick to the roof of your mouth using suction.
But that retention method typically isn’t the best way to restore your smile. Traditional dental plates come with a few drawbacks, including:
Difficulty chewing: To break down certain foods, you need a strong bite. But when a dental plate is loose in your mouth, it may become difficult to eat.- Constant slipping: Traditional dentures are notorious for slipping and shifting. With constant movement, patients find it hard to function normally without their dentures rubbing against their gums.
- Problems speaking: Patients with a loose dental plate often slur their words or hear a whistling sound every time they talk.
The root cause of all these drawbacks stems from your jawbone. While a dental plate does replace your missing teeth, it fails to replace the missing tooth roots underneath your gums. These roots are responsible for keeping your jawbone healthy, and without them, your jaw will shift and shrink. Because traditional dentures rely on your jaw for support, they will begin to move around, making everyday tasks more difficult.
The only way to anchor a dental plate in place is to secure it with dental implants!
Anchor Your Dental Plate in Place
An implant denture is a prosthetic that replaces all your missing teeth and relies on dental implants for support.
These titanium screws anchor in your jaw, taking the place of missing tooth roots. Not only does this structure keep your jawbone healthy, but it also provides an incredibly strong foundation for your denture to rely on.
Implant-retained dentures are strong and sturdy, allowing you to eat and talk without hesitation. Additionally, depending on the restoration you choose, you may never even need to remove your denture!
With dental implants securing your prosthetic in place, you can replace your missing teeth with a denture that looks and feels like your natural teeth.
Our Implant Dentures in Sterling Heights, MI
At St. Apollonia Dental, we offer several types of implant dentures. Each restoration is slightly different from the last, both in price and design.
Stabilized Dentures
Our most affordable option is called denture stabilization. The prosthetic rests on 4 to 8 mini dental implants and is totally removable.
When you have a loose dental plate, we may be able to anchor it to your jaw by adding implants. But your prosthetic will need to be in great condition for the procedure to work. Otherwise, we’ll craft a new denture and secure it on your implants.
When you want to remove a stabilized denture, simply “snap” it on and off your implants. These denture bases have housings with rubber O-rings that allow an implant to go in and out. When on your implants, a stabilized denture will stay secure.
Semi-Permanent Roundhouse Bridges
For an even more secure solution, we offer semi-permanent roundhouse bridges.
A roundhouse bridge is similar to a denture in that it replaces all of your teeth. However, this prosthetic is much sleeker than a denture, as it doesn’t need a large gum base. Instead, roundhouse bridges are a row of artificial teeth bonded together in a horseshoe shape. These teeth follow the natural curve of your jaw and secure directly to your implants.
A semi-permanent roundhouse bridge offers better stability than a stabilized denture because it uses more implants! With 6 to 10 mini implants to support your prosthetic, you never need to remove it. Only a professional dentist like those at St. Apollonia Dental will remove your denture for routine maintenance.
Cemented Roundhouse Bridges
Lastly, if a patient is looking to restore their smile to what it was before tooth loss, we offer a cemented roundhouse bridge. This restoration is even more natural-looking because it often doesn’t require a gum base. We simply fabricate a bridge to fit over your implants, permanently restoring your smile.
A cemented roundhouse bridge is anchored to 10 to 12 mini implants and is never taken out. Instead, it looks and functions exactly like your natural teeth, providing incredible strength and stability. Wth this denture, you can eat and chew all the foods you love without hesitation.
Secure Your Smile With Dental Implants!
Traditional dental plate prosthetics are typically outdated for most of our patients. If you’re looking for a secure and comfortable solution to total tooth loss, we recommend using an implant-retained denture. At St. Apollonia Dental, we offer three distinct denture options that range in removability. To learn which implant denture is best for you, book a free implant consultation with us in Sterling Heights, MI! There, we will help you find a solution that works for you and your budget.
