Eat Better and Get Healthy With Great-Fitting Dentures

By Karl A. Smith, DDS, MS

Karl A. Smith, DDS, LLC

. http://www.drkarlsmith.com/

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Eat Better and Get Healthy With Great-Fitting Dentures

Dentures are a good replacement option for patients who are missing all of their teeth, but only if they fit well.

What Makes Dentures Loose?

Impact on the bone by continuous hitting of a denture against the jaw every time you eat can make the bone underneath the denture go away. This causes the denture to become loose and slip. It may create the need for using paste or other means to hold the denture in place. Slipping dentures can make eating certain foods very difficult for patients.

How Can Dentures Fit Well For A Long Time?

Dental implants can be placed under the denture. Implants have offered the possibility of fully replacing teeth for over 30 years and are very safe and effective. When you make the denture stable by “snapping” it onto dental implants, you can provide a better level of comfort for the denture-wearer, and create new strength for eating the foods patients love.

Dental implants are very much like your natural teeth. They are quite easy to get used to, and they can reduce the amount of stress to the bone and jaw by helping provide an anchor for support. The implant acts as a natural root to help prevent additional bone deterioration and helps to deliver long lasting function.

Does Every Denture-Wearer Qualify?

This depends on the amount of bone loss that has already taken place. If the denture has been in place for many years and the ridge of bone under it is very thin, you may need to have a special scan done to decide if you are a candidate for the procedure. This scan will also look for any other defects that may be present to make sure you are healthy.

Since implants are meant to last for a very long time, your health and wellness are important to the outcome.

How Long Does A Patient Have To Go Without Teeth?

Never. The denture is fitted to the implants, the same day the implants are placed. Typically, you are back to normal or better eating by day two or three.

Do Dental Implants Hurt?

Most patients have little to no discomfort. The surgery is done in one day, typically in about two hours. There are sedation options available for this procedure for those patients who want to relax through the procedure.

Is Treatment Expensive?

The cost of treatment varies depending on the number of implants, if a new denture needs to be made, if the patient desires sedation, or if there needs to be more bone added to have a good result. Costs are variable and should be weighed against factors such the education of the doctor, the results from other patient experiences, and the quality of the product you are receiving.

Discover the difference dental implants can make for you.