Denture Implants

Implant dentures, also known as overdentures, are a relatively new tooth replacement method that has several advantages over traditional restorative dentistry options. Precision Dental in Astoria and Bayside, Queens, NY, offers meticulously designed and crafted implant-supported dentures that stay firmly in place, reducing discomfort, poor speech, dietary restrictions, and gum irritation that is associated with removable dentures.

What Are Denture Implants?

Denture implants are titanium posts surgically inserted into your jawbone. These posts have special fittings that correspond to attachments on your denture fitting surface (the surface closest to your gums). When you put your denture into your mouth, it clips onto the dental implants firmly and is a restoration called an implant-supported denture or an overdenture.

Why Consider an Implant Overdenture?

Some of the advantages of choosing an overdenture instead of a regular denture include:

• You will find you can eat a far greater range of foods, and your biting strength will increase because the denture is clipped onto the implants firmly
• You needn’t worry that your dentures will move around when you eat or speak, so socializing and mealtimes become pleasurable again
• Instead of the denture covering your upper palate, your upper palate will be uncovered, so it is less bulky and more comfortable to wear, and the food will be tastier because there are lots of taste buds in your upper palate
• You can unclip the denture whenever you need to clean it thoroughly, as an implant-supported denture is still a removable prosthesis

Another advantage of having an implant-supported denture as opposed to a full arch of implanted teeth is that only a few dental implants are needed. Your Astoria dentist may only need to place two or four dental implants to hold a lower denture securely in position. However, you will almost certainly need more than four dental implants to hold the upper denture securely, as the upper jawbone tends to be more fragile.

Can I Have an Upper Implant Overdenture?

An overdenture is designed to fit over another structure which in this case is dental implants. It is held securely in the mouth by several dental implants. If you wish to use dental implants to secure an upper denture, you may need more dental implants, and this is partly due to the upper jawbone being thinner and weaker naturally because of the sinus cavities on either side of your nose and just above your upper back teeth.

Dental implants may be more difficult to place in your upper jaw because the bone around your sinus cavities is weaker, and the sinus cavities widen when you have missing teeth. Some patients who require dental implants to replace their upper back teeth typically undergo a procedure called a sinus lift or sinus augmentation. A sinus lift is a bone grafting treatment that “lifts” the membrane between your sinus cavities and jawbone to make more room for bone grafting material.

Fixed Versus Removable Prosthesis

Dental implant treatment is very versatile, and you can choose to have removable dentures that you can take out for easy cleaning and which is called an overdenture, or you can get a fixed arch of teeth that will remain firmly in place unless removed by your dentist.

Initially, it may seem tricky to choose which system is best for you, and it largely depends on whether you want to have a removable or fixed appliance. Most people would prefer a fixed appliance, but there are several advantages to choosing a removable overdenture, such as:

• It is much easier to keep clean and especially if you have any issues with dexterity
• It is substantially cheaper

However, if you are new to wearing dentures and want something as close to natural teeth as possible, a fixed denture is a more suitable solution. Although overdentures are extremely secure, they still have a certain amount of play or movement, which is eliminated with a fixed denture. Your dentist can discuss both options with you and can assess your suitability for each.

Affordability

People investigating the possibility of implant dentures are often pleasantly surprised at the price, especially if they have looked at having dental implants earlier. Far from being expensive, implant dentures are a cost-effective solution that can greatly benefit your overall sense of well-being, confidence, and dental health. Because dental implants are placed at the front of the mouth, where the bone is naturally thicker and stronger, just a few implants are required. It may be possible for your dental implant dentist to secure a lower denture with as few as two dental implants, or possibly they will prefer to use four dental implants. It is far less than would be needed to have a conventional arch of implant teeth.

Using the jawbone in this way also helps to reduce the need for bone grafting, a procedure where the missing bone is built up using bone grafting material. Sometimes bone grafting is necessary for dental implants because the implants must be surrounded by a specific amount of healthy, strong bone to fuse with the bone successfully and create a strong anchorage point for supporting the dentures.

Planning Implant Overdenture Treatment

To ensure that the entire treatment is preplanned, a skilled implant dentist will conduct comprehensive diagnostic tests, including a cone beam CT scan that produces 3-D images of your jaws. These images let your implant dentist decide where to place each dental implant, determining the correct angulation and depth. They preplan the treatment precisely and then create a computer-generated surgical guide for use during implant placement. The surgical guide fits over your gums, guiding the dentist to ensure your implant plan is replicated accurately. It’s a process that ensures the entire procedure is quicker and smoother for you, and healing is faster and more comfortable because only tiny incisions are made into your gums in exactly the right locations.

What to Expect after Denture Implant Surgery?

Before you leave our dental practice after dental implants, our dental team will give you complete instructions on caring for your mouth. They can tell you what to expect and how to clean around the dental implants carefully, and what to do if you have any problems. Initially, after surgery, you will require someone to take you home, and you must rest and recover for the rest of the day.

It’s perfectly normal to experience some swelling and minor bleeding, and bruising after dental implant surgery, especially if you require multiple implants. Your implant dentist can prescribe painkillers, but many people find over-the-counter pain relief adequate. To minimize discomfort, you may be advised to take pain medication before your local anesthetic wears off.

Once the implant is inserted into the jawbone, it gradually begins to bond with the bone. Most dental implant surfaces are specially created to encourage new bone growth on and around the post. Approximately three months after an implant is inserted in the jawbone, this bonding process is completed, creating an anchorage point that is strong enough to support replacement teeth.

If you’re looking for a permanent solution to tooth loss, the expert oral surgeon and skilled periodontist at Precision Dental can provide you with implant-supported dentures that are long-lasting, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. Visit one of our offices in Astoria or Bayside to discover why so many of our patients believe we provide the most affordable dentures and implants in Queens, NY.