Implant Supported Dentures vs Conventional Dentures

You and the dentist have determined the best way to replace your teeth with dentures, but you are not looking forward to using adhesives to keep them in place every day.  You know the dentures will help keep your gums and jawbone in good health, but you are not sure that the implant surgeries will be worth the time.  Let’s look at the differences between your two choices of traditional dentures and implant supported dentures.

What are the important differences between conventional dentures and implant supported dentures?

While there are a number of ways to replace missing teeth, when you need to replace all your teeth, you want to be able to secure them in place.  You have come to count on your teeth and other dental fixtures to stay in place through meals, talking and just your day to day activities.  Without roots of your natural teeth to hold the replacement teeth on your gums, you have the choice of traditional dentures or implant supported dentures.  Before you can choose which type of denture is best for you, consider the major differences between them.

The Differences

Conventional dentures are molded to fit snugly and form a suction along your gum line.  The gums themselves need to be healthy enough to support the dentures and the jawbone needs to be strong enough to hold the gums securely in place.  When the dentures rub along the gums throughout the day, the dentures can cause sore spots from poor fits.  You will take these dentures in and out at the beginning and end of each day.  You will need to clean your gums and your dentures twice a day, like you do your natural teeth to ensure your oral health.

Implant supported dentures use titanium rods to secure the dentures in place.  The rods are placed below the gum line through surgery.  The rods then get fitted with either bar or ball attachments to fit into the dentures to lock the dentures in place.  Depending on the attachments, the implant supported dentures can be removed every morning and evening or then can be permanently fixed in your mouth.  Then the dentist would be the only person to remove your dentures to clean them or repair them.

Comparing Conventional Dentures vs. Implant Supported Dentures

The way that conventional and implant supported dentures impact your jawbone health is different.  The jaw bone stays strong from the pressure of biting and chewing; dentures will help mimic this pressure and keep your jaw bone healthy despite the changes to your teeth.

Traditional dentures rub the along the gum line and rely on suction to stay in place.  The upper jaw can use the palate to hold the dentures firmly, but people usually struggle to find a secure fit on the lower jaw.  The loose fit can create issues chewing and ultimately the lower jaw will shrink from the lack of stimulation and limited pressure.

Implant supported dentures use the jaw bones to stay in place and offer strong pressure for chewing and talking.  The titanium implanted rods help keep the jaw bones strong and prevent shrinkage.  These dentures do not sit on the gums so the likelihood of sore spots is greatly reduced.

What Is Your Long-Term Choice?

Up front, traditional dentures include the cost of the replacement teeth and will not require any additional surgeries.  Traditional dentures may need to be adjusted over time as your mouth changes and require larger surface areas to stay in place.  Your speech, eating choices, and even hobbies may have to change as you have to account for the new needs of your dentures.

At the onset of the treatment plan, you will have to have at least one surgery to place the implants below the gum line and there is a recovery time associated with implant surgeries.  Your gums will need to heal, the titanium rods will need to fuse with the bone and any infection and swelling will need to be eliminated before the next step.  The investment of time and money at the beginning could lead to more confidence in your smile, more strength in your bite and a stronger long term health outlook for your mouth.

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