Dentures are probably something you’re familiar with. They’re an oral appliance designed to replace a part or all of your teeth, and they typically consist of a gum-like base that supports a set of false pearly whites. You might, however, be less familiar with implant dentures – or if you are, there’s a good chance you’re wondering what sets them apart from traditional dentures.
The best way to understand the difference between dentures and implant dentures is to look at what you would experience if you switched replacements. When it comes to implant dentistry in general, it’s all about your quality of life!
What Are Implant Dentures?
Implant dentures still feature a traditional denture piece, which will still rest on top of your gums for the most part. The “implant” half of “implant dentures” involves anchoring the denture with roughly four dental implants. Your dentist will be strategic about where these implants are located, so that once they’re rooted and integrate with your jawbone, they’ll firmly keep your replacement in, well, place.
How Dentures Can Affect Your Wellbeing
Make no mistake, dentures are an effective tooth replacement solution and can work quite well for some patients. Others, though, can find them uncomfortable and difficult to deal with. Sometimes this can even negatively impact their health. Here are some examples:
- Slippage can make eating challenging, to the point where patients avoid meals altogether.
- Shifty dentures can also make it harder to chew effectively even when patients do eat meals, which in turn makes it harder for the body to absorb essential nutrients.
- Denture adhesive can help mitigate denture movement, but it’s not recommended as a long-term solution and tends to leave a metallic taste in the mouth.
Basically, if you think your dentures are a pain, you’re not crazy!
Why Implant Dentures Can Be Helpful
The idea of dental implants is to promote comfort and stability, and that applies to implant dentures as well. With the dental implants anchoring the denture in place, slippage is nonexistent. You could enjoy:
- A smooth dining experience.
- A firmer bite for better chewing, which means better nutrition overall.
- Built-in stability that provides maximum reliability and maximum comfort.
Just by adding four dental implants to your replacement, you could dramatically enhance your quality of life!
Implant dentures are a great way to enjoy some of the major benefits of dental implants without committing to a full set of replacement teeth. In the end, what you get is confidence – confidence that you can eat, speak, and go about your normal routines without your teeth slipping or falling out! If this sounds like the kind of experience you’d like to have, don’t forget to contact your dentist and ask about implant dentures.
About the Dentist
Dr. J. Travis Kobza is well known and respected by his peers for his work with dental implants. If you’re considering implant dentures, he’ll ensure you can enjoy the full benefits of this replacement option by skillfully securing your dental implants and expertly fitting the denture piece. To contact Dr. Kobza’s office, call 402-245-2243.