Implant-Retained Dentures – Oklahoma City, OK
Implant-Retained Dentures Create Secure, Beautiful Smiles
If you are missing an entire row of teeth, replacement is essential for the sake of your smile as well as your oral and general health. Fortunately, there are a few good prosthetic options. With dental implants in Oklahoma City, Dr. Isaacson and his team can create implant-retained dentures that offer both security and aesthetic appeal.
Why Choose Joe Isaacson Dental for Implant-Retained Dentures?
- Dental Implant Placement & Restoration in 1 Location
- FREE Dental Implant Consultations
- Attractive & Custom Prosthetics With Unparalleled Stability
How Do Implant-Retained Dentures Work?
As you may have already guessed, dental implants hold these dentures in place. The implants are strategically positioned along your jaw, usually toward the front in the case of a full denture. Detailed X-rays help your dentist in Oklahoma City know where to place the implants so that the greatest bone density is available. A full denture typically requires four to six dental implants; a partial may only need one or two implants. Implant-retained dentures are most often used to replace teeth missing along the lower arch, because dentures here are more likely to slip if not firmly secured.
Am I a Candidate for Implant-Retained Dentures?
Whether you have been wearing dentures for many years or about to receive them for the first time, you may be a candidate for implant retained dentures. Prior to receiving dental implants in Oklahoma City, you’ll first have an oral exam. Healthy gums and underlying bone structure are essential for the success of implant-retained dentures. In addition, the right amount of bone density is needed to anchor dental implants. If density has decreased, then bone graft surgery may be an option.
The Implant-Retained Dentures Procedure
The process begins with X-rays and impressions of your teeth and gums. With this information, OKC dentist Dr. Isaacson prepares a treatment plan. At your appointment, an incision is made in your gums to expose the bone. A very small section of bone is then removed and the implant is positioned. The incision is stitched closed, and you are told how to keep the site clean while your gums heal. Once the implant and surrounding bone have fused together, a healing cap is placed on top of the implant so gum tissue heals around it. This prevents gum tissue from interfering with your implant-retained dentures. Finally, another set of impressions is taken of your gums and the implants’ abutments, so your dentures can be made to fit perfectly.
Benefits of Combining Dentures and Dental Implants
Besides holding your new dentures in place, dental implants offer other benefits, too. Primarily, they help to keep your jaw strong and your face well shaped and youthful looking.
If you have a missing tooth, then you also have a missing root. That root not only keeps a tooth in place, but also helps to maintain your healthy jaw. Every time you bite and chew, blood and nutrients are drawn to the site. Without a tooth root or a dental implant to provide stimulation, the bone can begin to deteriorate. Consequently, your facial structure could start to look different and unfortunately not for the better as your jawbone shrinks.