Upper/Lower Teeth Implants
Dental technologies continue to improve, and for patients with significant tooth loss, fixed dentures and implant supported dentures offer an alternative to the potential difficulties of traditional, removable dentures. Fioritto Family Dental is committed to delivering the advanced dental treatment patients expect. We’re pleased to offer dental implants to restore oral function whether you’ve lost a single tooth, several teeth, or all of the teeth on your upper and/or lower jaw.
How do fixed dentures and implant supported dentures work? What are the benefits for patients who choose this treatment option?
What are Upper/Lower Teeth Implants?
A dental implant consists of a titanium post implanted in the jaw. It essentially replaces the roots of the missing tooth by bonding with the bone to prevent bone deterioration and forms a stable base on which to place a false tooth, or crown.
How do implants work when you’ve lost all of the teeth on the upper and/or lower jaw? Will a dozen implants be necessary? The fact is, you only need a handful of titanium screws to anchor a dental plate with up to a dozen teeth. Typically, 4-6 posts/screws are required, but the exact number is dependent on factors such as bone density and volume.
With a fixed denture, the dental plate will be permanently attached to these anchor points in the jaw. Patients will not need to remove these dentures – they’ll be fixed in place so you can eat, speak, laugh, and brush your teeth with confidence, knowing they won’t budge.
Implant supported dentures are similar in that they also feature several implants to anchor the dental plate. The difference is that this type of denture is removable. With bar-retained dentures, a curved wire is attached to the implants so that the dentures can clip on for stability. Ball-retained dentures rely on balls on the ends of implants that slot into sockets in the dental plate for a secure grip.
Benefits of Fixed or Implant Supported Dentures
One of the most difficult aspects of transitioning to traditional dentures is that they are not fixed in place. A denture fixative is used to stick dentures to gums, but dentures can easily be dislodged when chewing, speaking, laughing, or other activities, leading to embarrassment and possibly chafing on sensitive gum tissue.
Fixed and implant supported dentures solve this problem by ensuring that dentures will not move once they’re in place. Additionally, implants contribute to a strong and healthy jaw. Each implant will help to prevent bone loss in that area of the jaw. While surrounding jaw bone may recede without the roots of teeth to support, the anchor points will remain hardy, helping to promote oral health.
Tooth loss can be a traumatic experience, but it need not be a permanent situation. Contact the experienced dentists at Fioritto Family Dental today at 440-951-5511 to schedule an appointment.