Dental Implants for Dentures
Calgary, Alberta
Loose ill fitting dentures are bad enough. They slide around creating sore spots, but the fear of them falling out in the middle of a conversation or worse watching them sink to the bottom of the sea as you look out over the edge of a boat is a nightmare. Yes, this has happened to patients. Can you imagine being on a vacation when it happens. Holiday photos with no teeth. I don’t think so. Implant supported dentures can be the answer!
What are implant supported dentures?
Standard dentures rest on the gums and do not have any support other than a denture adhesive product. And anyone who has used denture adhesive knows how well that works! If it does work try getting it off your gums. Sticks to everything but the dentures. Implant supported dentures are a form of overdenture that attaches to dental implants providing support and stability for the denture. An implant retained denture is most often used when patients do not have any teeth in either the upper or lower jaw. The dental implants are surgically placed into the jaw bone where it will provide structural support. The implant retained denture is created with special attachments that literally snap onto the attachments of the dental implants keeping the denture in place in the mouth.
Implant supported dentures are typically made for the lower jaw since standard regular dentures are often less stable. Normally, a standard denture made to fit an upper jaw is stable enough on its own and does not require the extra support that the dental implants provide. However, implant supported denture are available for either the upper or lower jaw.
What is an Dental Implant?
A dental implant is essentially an artificial tooth root used in dentistry to support restorations that resemble a tooth or group of teeth. An implant is made of titanium and looks like similar to a screw. Your bone will integrate around the thread and in some cases through the implant. Once the bone integrates with the dental implant, it will remain firmly in place. An attachment passes from the implant through the gum and connects to a restoration above the gum such as a crown, bridge or denture.What Can I Expect From Implant Supported Denture?
Your implant retained denture will be much more stable than your standard denture. You will not only find it easier to speak, you also won't have to worry about the denture becoming loose or falling out of your mouth. No more embarrassing moments! You will also likely be able to eat foods you could not eat before.
An implant retained denture for the upper jaw can be made to cover less of your palate (roof of your mouth) than a regular denture. This is because the dental implants are holding it in place in lieu of the suction that is created between the full denture and your palate.
Dentures fixed to dental implants will give you an enhanced quality of life that regular dentures cannot provide. You can talk and laugh without feeling self-conscious that your dentures may slip out.
A six month study by McGill University in Toronto was conducted determine if people, especially elder adults, can improve their ability to chew and subsequently improve their nutrition by wearing implant retained dentures verses standard dentures. The test group that had an implant retained denture not only increased their body fat, but their blood tests indicated better nutrition showing significantly higher levels of albumin, haemoglobin (Iron) and vitamin B12. I know the extra body fat may not sound so great, but it’s much better than poor nutrition. 
Am I a Good Candidate for Dental Implants?
If you are in reasonable health and want to replace missing teeth or are unhappy with your regular denture, then you are a perfect candidate. Dental implant retained dentures can help anyone with dentures who would like to eat more comfortably, smile more frequently, and feel more less self-conscious when they talk and laugh. In some cases, a patient may not have sufficient bone tissue readily available for the placement of dental implants. In these cases, new bone can be added through a series of ridge augmentation procedures prior to placing the implants.
Am I too Old for Dental Implants? 
Absolutely not. If you are healthy enough to undergo routine dentistry procedures, then you are likely healthy enough to have dental implants placed. Dr.Cload will be able to determine if you are a good candidate at your consultation. How Easy are They to Look After?
Fairly easy. You should remove the implant supported denture daily to clean the denture. The dental implant should be brushed and flossed twice daily. Yes, floss! It’s just as important to floss the dental implants as real teeth. There are fewer implants to floss than a mouthful of teeth though. You would think dentists had shares in floss companies sometimes!
Some people prefer to have permanent crown and bridgework in their mouths that can't be removed. Dr.Cload will consider your particular needs and preferences when suggesting fixed or removable options.
How Does It Work?
Each dental implant holds a metal attachment. This attachment fits into a corresponding attachment on the denture. Typically, the attachments on the dental implants are ball shaped and fit snugly into the socket attachments on the denture. Once the attachments are fitted into each other the connection is very strong. Not much chance of your denture falling out no matter how funny the joke or chewy that roast beef your mother-in-law cooked.The Implant Process
Normally, the dental implants are placed in the jawbone in the front of the mouth where your incisors would be located. This is because the bone at the front of the jaw tends to be denser than in the back of the mouth. When you lose your teeth, you also begin to lose the bone in that area. However, even if the front teeth have been missing for a while the front of the jaw will still have more bone mass. Also, the front of the jaw has considerably fewer nerves that could interfere with the placement of the dental implants.
How long it takes to complete the placement of the dental implants is dependent on several factors.
The quickest and usually the most cost effective way is by utilizing an amasing system called Mini Implants (MDI Implants), basically they are narrower versions of traditional implants. I know you are wondering why are they are so amazing. Traditional implants are placed and need up to 3 to 4 months to heal before you can attach your denture to the implants. In some situations you cannot even wear your denture for a few days while the implant site heals. With mini implants we can place the implant and retro fit them to the underside of your present denture in most cases. Yes, you walk in with loose wobbly dentures and leave with tight fitting dentures without the fear of them slipping out. Now that is amazing. Most patients need 4 mini implants placed near the front of their mouth to get as much retention as possible.
Now if you want to have a more permanent restoration that you do not remove we can place traditional implants followed by a semi-fixed bridge that you do not have to remove. The complete installation of the implants can be done in approximately five months, including the installation surgeries and the placement of the semi-permanent bridge/denture. However, it is important to note that the full process can take up to a year or more, particularly if you need bone grafting or other preliminary procedures before the implants can be placed.
If you would like to learn more about denture retained implants or to find out if you are a candidate, Please contact Southcentre Dental Clinic in Calgary, Alberta to arrange a consultation.
