Dental Implant-Supported Dentures – Houston, TX

What Are Dental Implant-Supported Dentures?

Dental implants are titanium posts that are surgically inserted into the jawbone just below the gumline. Once there, a process called osseointegration takes place over several months as the bone bonds with the metal.

False teeth supported by implants keep the jawbone healthy by providing the stimulation that normally comes from natural teeth, which lets you keep a more youthful look. Furthermore, implant dentures tend to be more stable and secure than traditional dentures, and they’re usually held into place by four or eight dental implant posts.

Because of their versatility, you and your dental implant dentist in Houston can discuss which type of denture you prefer: fixed or removable.

Fixed/Permanent Dental Implant-Supported Dentures

Considered a hybrid prosthesis, a fixed denture is held into place with 4-8 implant posts and cannot be removed by anyone other than a skilled implant dentist. Although it remains secured to your jawbone, your prosthetic will be easy to clean, only requiring that you brush, floss, and rinse as normal. With this type of denture, you will need to have ample jawbone density to ensure maximum support and implant placement success.

Removable Dental Implant-Supported Dentures

Otherwise known as a “Snap-On denture,” a removable prosthesis only requires between 2 and 5 implant posts. You also do not need as much jawbone density. Because it is held into place by a bar- or ball-retained device, you can easily remove your denture at night for cleaning purposes.

The Dental Implant-Supported Denture Process

The process to receive dental implant-supported dentures from our Heights dentist is timely and does require much patience; however, once you see the results, you’ll discover it is well worth the wait. First, you’ll need to schedule a consultation with a member of our dental team to determine if you require preliminary treatments, such as bone grafting. We’ll need to prepare your jaw to receive dental implants. The bone may have deteriorated due to tooth loss, so we may need to perform a bone graft. We might also need to perform periodontal therapy or other treatments to ensure good oral health.

Once your mouth is ready, we’ll place four to eight implants along your upper or lower jaw. After administering anesthesia, we’ll make small incisions in the gum tissue to expose the bone and place each implant. Once this process is complete, we’ll need to wait for osseointegration to take place, which usually takes several months. You’ll receive a temporary denture to wear during this time.

Once you are fully healed from your oral surgery, we will place your customized restoration. This will allow you to begin living life with a new and improved smile.

Am I a Candidate for Dental Implant-Supported Dentures?

We’ll need to evaluate your overall oral health in order to determine whether implant dentures are appropriate in your case. Implants can support many different restorations depending on the number of teeth missing. If you’re missing all of your teeth, dentures will most likely be the best option; if you still have a few teeth remaining, some extractions might be required first.

Infections can cause implants to fail, so gum disease and other oral health problems will need to be taken care of before the surgery. If you smoke, you’ll need to stop before and after the procedure as it will have a negative impact on the body’s ability to heal.

Benefits of Combining Dentures & Dental Implants

By combining dentures and dental implants in Houston, you will find there are many unique benefits you can expect, such as:

• In comparison with other forms of dental restoration, dental implants can last for a very long time – sometimes over 30 years or even a lifetime. The dentures themselves will also last longer than the traditional versions.
• Dental implants grant chewing power almost on par with natural teeth, allowing for a much more varied diet.
• The implants will keep your jawbone healthy and strong; allowing you to maintain a better facial structure and avoid the potential for sagging.
• Your dentures will be customized to fit the appearance of the rest of your face, creating a more natural smile.