Restoring the comfort, functionality, and appearance of missing teeth

When you’re faced with an important decision, like how to replace one or both arches of missing teeth, it’s natural to want all the information available on different tooth replacement options to ensure you’re making the best decision. 

You’ve likely heard that dental implants are the best way to replace missing teeth, and this holds just as true when you need to replace an entire arch. This is possible because implants are incredibly versatile. They can be fitted with many tooth replacement options, from a crown on a single implant to an implant-supported denture on several.

Implant-supported dentures are famous for their ability to restore the function, comfort, and appearance of your natural teeth while restoring and protecting your oral health. If you don’t know much about teeth implants or implant-supported dentures, however, you might find yourself wondering what they are and how they differ from other tooth replacement options. You may also be wondering if they really feel as comfortable and natural as your natural teeth. We understand that these details are crucial to choosing the best treatment for you, so we’ve put together a guide on implant-supported dentures, just for you. 

What are implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures are dentures, or a set of prosthetic teeth, that are supported by between four and six dental implants on each arch. Just like other types of dentures, implant-supported dentures are designed to replace all of the teeth on one or both of the arches in your mouth. The implants that support them consist of titanium metal rods that replace your natural tooth roots in your jawbone, giving your new set of teeth the stability, strength, and comfort of natural teeth. 

Just like other tooth replacement options, when you get implant-supported dentures, they are custom-made for you. This not only helps to make them even more comfortable, but it also means that you and Dr. Hite can work together to design a smile you’ll truly love for years to come.

How do implant-supported dentures compare to traditional dentures?

While implant-supported dentures are held securely in place by the implants they’re attached to, traditional dentures rely on a combination of a customized fit and suction to stay in place. This works better than you might think as long as the dentures fit well, allowing them to make it easier to eat. 

Over time, though, missing teeth cause bone loss in your jaw. This bone loss changes the way traditional dentures fit in your mouth. Over time, they will feel less comfortable and secure, making it harder to eat certain foods. To combat this, they need to be checked every year to see if they need to be adjusted.

Implant-supported dentures, however, prevent this problem entirely. Dental implants are the only tooth replacement option that prevents the bone loss in your jaw that generally results from missing teeth. They do this by carrying out the tooth roots’ duties—providing stimulation to the jawbone and telling your body to continue sending nutrients to it. Because of this, implant-supported dentures keep your jawbone strong and healthy for years to come.  

No matter how well traditional dentures fit, implant-supported dentures have a deep-rooted stability that allows them to feel more comfortable, more secure, and more natural. They’re truly the next best thing to regaining your missing teeth, as they allow you to eat all of your favorite foods—including foods that would be difficult to eat with traditional dentures, like tough steak or corn on the cob. 

Implant-supported dentures are also much lower maintenance than traditional dentures. Unlike traditional dentures, you never take them out, even to sleep. They stay in your mouth all the time just like natural teeth, and you care for them like natural teeth too! It’s just another detail that helps implant-supported dentures feel natural and worry-free. 

How do implant-supported dentures compare to other dental implants?

Beneath the surface, implant-supported dentures are just like other dental implants. They consist of the same titanium metal rods and are embedded into your jawbone just like other teeth implants. Aside from the difference in the restoration that is secured over your implants—dentures as opposed to a crown or bridge—the biggest difference is simply that more implants are required to support your implant-supported dentures, between four and six on each arch of your mouth. This number of implants helps give the restoration the stability it needs to feel and function so much like natural teeth. 

Who should consider implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures are a great option for many people who have lost all or most of their teeth on one or both arches of their smile. To be a good candidate for dental implants, however, you need to have a healthy amount of bone density in your jaw to support the implants. If you don’t have enough healthy bone, a bone graft can sometimes make it possible for you to still receive implants. 

You also need to have good oral health to receive dental implants. This means you shouldn’t have issues like gum disease. If your oral health needs some work, this doesn’t mean that you don’t qualify for dental implants. It simply means that you’ll need to undergo treatments to get your oral health into good shape before you can begin the process of getting your implant-supported dentures.

Additionally, since dental implants do require surgery with a lengthy healing process, certain factors that slow your healing process or increase your likelihood of developing an infection, such as preexisting health conditions or being a smoker, could impact how good of a candidate you are for any type of dental implants. It doesn’t mean that you’re not a candidate at all, but it introduces factors that you’ll need to discuss with your dentist or doctors to determine if the procedure is right for you. 

When it comes right down to it, that’s the key! If you’re not sure whether you’re a good candidate for implant-supported dentures, the best thing you can do is schedule a consultation with Dr. Hite. He can perform an evaluation, examine your oral and overall health history, and give you a treatment recommendation. 

Why do so many people like implant-supported dentures?

Implant-supported dentures really are the next best thing to restoring your missing teeth. They carry a range of unique benefits that no other tooth replacement option can provide. The fact that they’re rooted in your jaw just like tooth roots makes them feel more natural and secure. They function more naturally and require the same care as natural teeth too, allowing you to go about your day without worrying about your teeth!

Being able to eat all your favorite foods without worrying about your teeth helps you feel confident eating in public again, but it can also actively help you stay healthier. A lot of healthy foods are hard to eat with traditional dentures, so by expanding your options when it comes to food, implant-supported dentures help you stay healthy and enrich your quality of life by allowing you to find joy in food again. Implant-supported dentures also look incredibly natural, so no one will realize you have dentures. They’re the only dental restoration that can give you this unique level of freedom and comfort—all while continuing to protect your future oral health at every level!

Schedule a consultation with Dr. Hite at Hite Family Dentistry today!

Restorative dental work is a process that begins with finding the best treatment option for you. While implant-supported dentures are often considered to be the best way to replace a full arch of missing teeth, everyone is different! The best way to determine which option is right for you is to speak to your dentist. Dr. Hite at Hite Family Dentistry can help you explore your options and provide recommendations that are tailored to your treatment needs and wants. To start this process or learn more about dental implants near Edwardsville, feel free to schedule a consultation at any time!