We often see patients at the office with missing teeth who want to know their options. There are several options for replacing teeth, including removable dentures, snap-in dentures supported by dental implants, and permanent fixed teeth in place.
Most often, the lower jaw, if someone is missing all their teeth or some of them are missing, will be the problem area because the strong muscles in place tend to push the denture out of place. There is no suction effect like a top denture would have. It is possible to have a combination of support, meaning a complete upper denture and a denture supported by dental implants on the lower jaw for better retention.
Conventional Dentures
Conventional or complete dentures are made for patients already missing teeth in one or both jaws. Action is used to hold the top denture in place on the roof of the mouth. Some patients may require dental adhesives to keep the dentures from moving,g, especially in the lower jaw. Some patients have an extreme gag reflex and find dentures challenging to wear. The disadvantages of complete dentures include the size of the denture, which needs to extend into the gums for support over time. The movement of the denture ‘rubs’ on the gum, which accelerates bone loss in the jawbone.
Immediate Dentures
Some patients choose to have a denture as a transitional or temporary prosthesis while the dental implants heal in place. Immediate dentures, also known as temporary dentures,s are placed on the same day teeth are removed or made before yours. Surgery always advises patients that they may need a new set of dentures or have their dentures relined(reshaped) after the gums heal in several months. This happens due to jaw bone shrinkage. Immediate dentures again cause advanced bone loss with time due to the movement of the denture on the gums.
Implant Overdenture (Snap in denture)
The final form of dentures is one retained by dental implants. These kinds of dentures are stable and do not need to cover the entire roof of the mouth, which is an excellent advantage for people with a strong gag reflex. Also, our tastebuds and the ability to taste food are on the roof of the mouth, typically covered by a complete denture.
For some patients who do not want dentures, permanent teeth (fixed in place) are also an option!
For your free dental implant consultation in Bowmanville, contact our team members today at 905-697-1118