If you have a loved one who’s been wearing dentures for a long time, chances are you’ve seen them in some awkward situations. An article posted in BioHorizons.com explains:
Millions of people around the world are missing enough teeth to require the use of a denture. Many of them struggle to keep their dentures secure, particularly in the lower jaw. If you have this problem, you already know about the embarrassment of slipping dentures, not being able to eat the foods that you love and the ineffectiveness of denture adhesives. Fortunately, there is a way to make your denture work the way it was intended: stabilize it with dental implants.
It’s never good to see your elderly loved one struggle with their palates; on the other side of the coin, they can feel it too despite the best adhesive products being used to stick the dentures in. Some dental experts say that a loose pair of dentures can lead to additional bone loss. If you or your loved one can no longer invest in denture adhesives that will degrade before long, consider going for sturdy denture implants of the kind that experienced practitioners like Dr. Kent Davis, DDS can set you up with.
Everything begins with you discussing your plight with the practitioner and a full check of all your teeth, plus testing if you are eligible for implantation. The dentist may advise you of certain issues that rule out implantation, such as existing periodontal disorders or health problems that affect the gums. The dentures may also have to be analyzed for their original fit and determine if some bone loss has occurred.
Advances in oral technology have enabled the development of innovative mini implants, which have been found to be effective for loose dentures. Depending on the earlier evaluation, your dentist may consider installing between two to four titanium screws into your gums under local anesthesia. Some medication may be prescribed to help ease the pain from the installation and allow time for the implants to gradually meld with the jawbone.
One benefit of mini implantation through a dentist like Dr. Davis is that the entire procedure will not take more than an hour to finish. The current dentures will also be fixed up to properly interlock with the implants or you can consent to creating new dentures. The latter is an option requiring at least two more appointments.
(Article Excerpt and Image from Stabilizing dentures using dental implants, BioHorizons.com)