Dental implants are the most effective way to replace missing teeth. However, patients who lack sizeable portions of their smile may have had to get dentures instead of dental implants when their smiles were first restored. Now that they have dentures, they may not be sure if they can get implants.
If you are someone in the same situation, our Escondido dentist has good news. Not only can you get implants if you already have dentures, but your dentures may be used with them in order to fully reconstruct your smile.
Implant-Supported Dentures
Dental implants work by giving a more traditional restoration, such as crowns and bridges, an artificial tooth root in the form of the implant post. Once this titanium rod has fused with the jawbone, the dental implant becomes a permanent and effective part of the smile.
Dental implants can also work with full dentures, like the ones you currently wear. By receiving several implants per jaw, you can wear an implant-supported overdenture that works the same way regular dentures do. You can even remove and clean them the same way that you would with your current dentures. However, because the dentures are retained by artificial teeth roots when worn, you still gain all of the benefits associated with implants.
If you are not able or ready to get a brand-new set of dentures for these implants, then our Escondido dental practice can partner with a dental laboratory to have your current dentures reworked. The end result is that your established smile becomes stronger through the use of implants.
Implants after Dentures Risks
Getting dental implants once you already have dentures is possible and beneficial, but you may need to undergo additional work for a successful implant placement.
When teeth are lost, the jawbone begins to shrink. Dental implants prevent this by giving the jaw new roots to support, but it cannot reverse it. Moreover, implant posts will not successfully integrate into the smile if there is not enough bone density to support them. You may, therefore, require bone grafting to host the dental implants before you can gain the benefits of implant-supported dentures.
Contact Us Today
California Dental Solutions provides dental implants and implant-supported dentures in Escondido, San Marcos, Rancho Bernardo, and the surrounding communities. For more information or to schedule your next dental appointment, call us today!