Dentures and Implants

Dentures

When teeth are missing, the face loses its natural contour and fullness, resulting in a sunken and prematurely older appearance. The traditional fix for this problem is to be fitted with a partial or full set of dentures – prosthetic teeth that can be taken in and out of the mouth. Full dentures are designed to replace all of the teeth on the upper or lower arch (or both). They are designed to fit perfectly on the ridges inside the mouth, held in place by the natural suction created by the facial muscles. Partial dentures replace some of the teeth in your mouth and are held in place with attachments that grip onto existing teeth. An increasingly popular hybrid of traditional dentures involves dental implants used to secure the plates in place.

Implants

Before development of dental implants, dentures were the only alternative to replacing a missing tooth or teeth.

Implants are synthetic structures that are placed in the area of the tooth normally occupied by the root. Implants are anchored to the jawbone or metal framework on the bone and act as a foundation for an artificial tooth or permanent bridge. In some cases, implants can be used to attach dentures.

Not everyone is a candidate for a dental implant, however. For a successful implant to take hold, a candidate must have proper bone density and have a strong immune system. In all cases, dental implants require strict oral hygiene.

Implants are so well designed that they mimic the look and feel of natural teeth. Implants are usually made of a synthetic yet biocompatible material like metal or ceramic.

Surgery is necessary to prepare the area for an implant and place the implant in the mouth. Following the procedure, a period of time is required for the implant to take hold and for bone tissue to build up and anchor the device. In some cases, metal posts are inserted into the implant during a follow-up procedure to connect the tooth.

Because implants require surgery, patients are administered anesthesia and, if necessary, antibiotics to stave off infection following the procedure.

Like any restoration, implants require diligent oral hygiene and proper care to ensure they last a long time.