Denture Stabilization
Denture stabilization is the way to combine two different dental technologies to enjoy the maximum benefits of both. The missing or damaged teeth are replaced by dentures and the dentures are held in place by dental implant supports. Denture stabilization helps you avoid the high cost of replacing multiple teeth with dental implants and the sliding of dentures while eating and talking.
Millions of adults in the United States are missing one or more of their permanent teeth. Single dental implants are the most common way to address just one missing tooth but that can be very invasive when you are looking at multiple teeth. Many people turn to dentures for their lower cost to address replacing multiple missing teeth. It is not uncommon for a full set of dentures to cost about the same price as two implants.
While dentures have a low price tag, they come with a large list of complaints. The biggest issue is that people who wear dentures can’t eat as they choose and they struggle to keep their dentures in place. Using denture adhesive is not an ideal solution due to its zinc content and the slightly strange taste it leaves behind. When your budget is limited, your tooth replacement choices can be limited too, until now.
Understanding Denture Stabilization
Without ever having worn dentures, there are people who refuse to even talk about wearing them due to the constant shifting of the prosthetic in their mouth while eating, talking and smiling. Fortunately, this does not need to be an automatic issue that comes with dentures any more due to denture stabilization. Dental implants are placed in the jaw to attach to the dentures in order to hold them in place.
Implant supported dentures, implant retained dentures, implant overdentures and denture stabilization all rely on dental implants that connect to the dentures and hold them in place. The implants in the jaw bone help stimulate bone growth and prevent bone loss that can happen with traditional dentures. The implants can make the dentures into a permanent solution instead of one that needs to be replaced and refit time and time again. Depending on how the dentures are attached to the implants, you may be able to take them out yourself or the dentist may need to take them out for you.
Patients who are able to combine dentures and dental implants no longer have to deal with the tiresome cleaning routines that come with traditional dentures. Traditional dentures need to be taken out at night for a thorough and proper cleaning allowing the wearer to brush their mouth. The dentures stay in a solution over night to be disinfected and moisturized for the next day. The most popular benefits of stabilizing dentures include:
- Easier time chewing and eating
- Easier time speaking
- Increased comfort as compared to traditional dentures
- Easier to clean and maintain
- Decreased risk of gum irritation and mouth sores
What is Dental Stabilization?
Denture stabilization refers to the process of using dental implants to keep dentures securely and firmly in place in your mouth. When a person needs multiple teeth replaced, dentures are a great way to address them with one prosthetic. However, something like eating a sandwich can cause your dentures to come out while you’re eating and leaving you embarrassed and still hungry. Using denture stabilization can improve your quality of life and offer you a more stable choice than traditional dentures.
How Does it Work?
The dentist will place implants into you jawbone at specific locations to help keep the dentures in place and optimize your jaw strength to given them a more natural feel and function. Regular dentures sit on top of the gums without any rooted support like your natural teeth have. In order to have implants placed, you will need to have a strong enough jaw bone and a dense enough jaw bone to ensure that the implants remain stable. With the implants in the bone, they encourage bone growth and prevent bone loss. The dentures may have a clip to attach to a wire on top of the implants or the dentures may have a ball type attachment that fits into a socket on the implants. Dentists can even use dental implants to secure a fixed crown or dental bridge to give it more support and keep the jaw bone healthy in that spot. You may be able to removed your stabilized dentures yourself before bed at night or the dentist may have to remove the dentures for you at appointments allowing them to remain in your mouth all the time.
Types of Stabilized Dentures
There are two kinds of denture stabilizations to choose from:
- Ball Retained Dentures – These are also known as stud attachment dentures. The implants are placed the jaw with attachments that sit just above the gumline called abutments. The attachment on the implant is typically in the shape of a ball and it fits into the socket shape spot on the dentures to secure them in place. In other cases, the ball is on the denture and the socket is on the implant.
- Bar Retained Dentures – These stabilized dentures usually require between two to five implants per jaw bone to hold the dentures properly. There is a metal bar that attaches to the implants and curves around your jaw bone. Your dentures go over this metal bar and there may be clips on the implants or dentures to keep them clipped together.
Why Are Dentures Important?
Some people do not think that replacing their teeth is that important and they would rather go without teeth than spend the money on dentures. Getting fit for dentures and having dental implants takes time and usually more than one appointment which people try to avoid as well. Those people may not feel the impact to their confidence but without dentures the jaw bone will deteriorate, your facial structure will sag, you will have a hard time eating and speaking clearly, and finally your dental hygiene can suffer.