Are you afraid to eat in public or socialize with friends because your dentures keep slipping out of place? If so, you are not alone. Many denture wearers feel as if their lives are ruled by that plate of ill-fitting plastic in their mouths, but you don’t have to resign yourself to a life of embarrassment any longer. Implant teeth reconstructions can help you start living to the fullest once again.
How Traditional Dentures Work
Dentures are a removable set of replacement teeth for any teeth that might be missing. Partial dentures are used to replace a few missing teeth, and complete dentures are used to replace every tooth in the mouth. Made of acrylic resin, metal, and plastic, complete dentures slide over the gums and palate and are held in place by suction. Sometimes denture adhesives are needed to hold them in place. While many patients tolerate dentures well, some have problems with eating, speaking, and mouth irritation. Others have trouble keeping the dentures in place.
How Implants Work
With dental implants, Drs. Alex Denes and Claudia Denes can replace some or all of your missing teeth. In either case, a titanium rod is inserted into the jawbone, and an artificial tooth is attached to the rod once it has fused with the bone. If you need all your teeth replaced, Drs. Denes and Denes will place five or more implants into the bone and then attach an entire set of teeth to these few implants.
The Advantages of Implants over Traditional Dentures
Implants are more natural looking and feel like your real teeth, so everyday tasks like eating and talking are much easier to do with implants than with dentures. Also, you won’t experience the bone shrinkage you would with dentures, so your facial appearance remains the same.
Common Concerns About Implants
- Expense. While it’s true that few insurance companies cover dental implants, consider the price you pay an investment. Because implants act like real teeth and stimulate the jawbone, you will not experience the bone loss that accompanies dentures and therefore won’t need to see your dentist frequently for adjustments and refittings.
- Age. No one is too old to get implant-supported dentures. As long as your gums are in good shape, you are a candidate. Even if you do not have enough bone for implants, a procedure called bone grafting can correct that.
- Pain. Drs. Denes and Denes practice sedation dentistry, so you need not feel anything during the procedure. After the treatment, you will be prescribed medication to control your pain until you have healed.
If you feel you can no longer tolerate your traditional dentures, contact Drs. Alex Denes and Claudia Denes at (559) 297-1800. Fresno Dental Studio happily serves patients in Fresno, Clovis, Sanger, Mendota, Orange Cove, Reedley, Selma, and the surrounding areas.