While removable dentures are many patients’ go-to treatment for correcting total tooth loss, they come with some drawbacks. Full, removable dentures are held in place by denture adhesive and often come loose during the day, which produces discomfort and limits basic oral function.
But adding dental implants to your denture treatment, your denture-wearing experience greatly improves in the following ways:
Implants Make Dentures Stable
The biggest complaint that many patients have about removable denture is that they simply don’t stay in place – and that makes everyday things (like talking without a lisp, or enjoying meals) a legitimate problem, which lowers quality of life.
Implants, however, can be used as anchors to hold your dentures in place through one of two methods: your dentist can use a combination of dentures and locators (or clips) that your dentures snap on to. By using permanent implants as your attachments (instead of denture paste) oral function is much improved. Your dentist can also recommend screw-retained dentures, which permanently hold your denture in place with a slightly larger number of dental implants. In either case, implant dentures provide patients with teeth that function more like their own, real teeth.
Implant Dentures Don’t Irritate Soft Tissue
Because implant dentures stay in place throughout the day – or even permanently -- they won’t rub on or irritate gums, another major complaint from denture-wearers. By slipping on gums, removable dentures can actually cause gum tissue to shrink, which ultimately gives denture-wearers a prematurely aged appearance.
Permanent Dentures Help You Enjoy a Balanced Diet
Many patients may not consider this aspect of denture treatment, but removable dentures don’t do much in the way of helping you bite and chew. In order to feel well and healthy, it’s important to eat a balanced diet and to chew your food entirely for digestive health. But because traditional dentures are not completely secure, denture-wearers can’t do things like properly chew or bite into food. Many patients with dentures forgo eating to avoid dealing with the hassle or end up severely limiting their diets to accommodate their dental appliances. This presents significant drawbacks for your health and vitality. Implant dentures supply patients with strong dental appliances that can withstand normal biting and chewing force for improved overall wellness.
Permanent dentures provide significant health and wellness benefits for patients who are missing all of their teeth. If you have traditional dentures and are interested in implants to stabilize your prosthetics, please call our Glen Ellyn family dental office for more information. 