What Are Implant Retained Dentures?
Patients who are missing a tooth or teeth have several treatment options available, including traditional dentures, which rest directly on the gums, and implant retained or implant supported dentures, which use titanium implants to support the denture and create a more secure fitting. Unlike implant supported dentures, which are fixed permanently in place and can only be removed by your periodontist, implant retained dentures snap on and off of the titanium post that is placed in your jaw and can be removed for cleaning and while sleeping.
Implant retained dentures are a popular treatment option for individuals who are dissatisfied with their dentures or who are missing one or multiple teeth. While they do not provide as permanent a solution as implant supported dentures and require additional maintenance, implant retained dentures are a more cost affordable option that require less procedural intervention. Implant retained dentures also provide a much more secure fit compared to traditional dentures and eliminate many of the issues commonly attributed to traditional dentures, such as slipping or falling out while talking or eating, sore spots that develop due to rubbing, and jawbone deterioration that occurs among patients with traditional dentures due to lack of stimulation that would otherwise be provided by the natural tooth.
Are Implant Retained Dentures Right for Me?
It will be necessary to schedule an initial evaluation to determine if you are a viable candidate for implant retained dentures. This will involve a thorough examination of your overall health to determine any underlying reasons that may have caused your tooth loss and development of a treatment plan to correct these issues. This examination will also include diagnostic exams to determine the health of your jawbone. Patients who have lost a significant amount of jawbone may require a bone graft procedure or need to consider other treatment options if they are not a viable candidate for implant retained dentures.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Implant Retained Dentures
If you are a viable candidate for implant retained dentures but are still uncertain as to whether they are the best treatment option for you, it may be helpful to weigh the benefits and the drawbacks.
Benefits of implant retained dentures include:
- Improved stability allows you to enjoy a wider range of foods
- Will preserve your oral health
- Will not become loose or slip while you are talking or eating
- Comfortable, natural fit
- Will not rub against your gums and cause sores
- Eliminates the need for adhesives and other modified care required by traditional dentures
- Improves your self-confidence by restoring you back to having a full, natural looking smile
Drawbacks of implant retained dentures include:
- Cost more than traditional dentures and may not be covered by your dental insurance plan
- Treatment time takes much longer
- Minor complications associated with the procedure that are not present with traditional dentures
- May require preparatory procedures, such as tooth extraction, bone graft, sinus lift, etc.
- Not all patients are viable candidates for implant retained dentures
- Require more maintenance than implant supported dentures
- Will eventually need to be replaced
To learn more about implant retained dentures and determine whether they are the right treatment option for you, schedule an appointment with your periodontist who can answer any of your questions and provide their professional opinion as to which treatment option is right for you.