Are you tired of dealing with the drawbacks of traditional dentures? In many cases, it may be possible to switch to implant dentures, which offer all kinds of unique advantages as a tooth-replacement solution. However, before you start this process, you should make sure you fully understand what will happen. Here’s an overview of what you can expect during the transition process from dentures to dental implants.
Initial Consultation and Preparation
Step one is to talk to your periodontist and let them know that you’re interested in upgrading to implant dentures. They will carefully evaluate your mouth and jaw in order to make sure that you are a viable candidate for dental implant surgery.
If you have been wearing traditional dentures for a while, there’s a good chance that your jaw has lost some of its bone density. Thus, to ensure that there’s enough bone present to support the implant posts, your periodontist may recommend bone grafting. This involves applying new bone material to the parts of the jaw where bone is lacking. Note that once a bone graft has been performed, you will usually have to wait about four to six months before you can receive dental implants.
Getting Dental Implants
A minor surgery will be performed to insert a specific number of implant posts into your jaw. Generally speaking, about four to six dental implants are usually needed to support a denture in order to replace an entire arch of teeth.
In certain cases, it may be possible to attach your old dentures to your dental implants. That said, it’s often a better choice to simply get a new prosthesis made to withstand the various foods that you will be able to enjoy with the enhanced chewing power provided by the implant posts.
Living with Dental Implants
It will typically take months for dental implants to finish fusing with your jawbone via a process called osseointegration; until they do, you will need to stick to a diet of soft and liquid foods. Once osseointegration is complete and the final prosthesis has been attached, you will have the freedom to eat all kinds of foods, including those that might have given you trouble when you had traditional dentures.
It should be noted that implant dentures can either be removable or fixed in place. A removable implant denture will need to be taken out of your mouth for daily cleanings. On the other hand, a fixed implant denture can be brushed and flossed as if it were a natural part of your mouth, which can make your daily oral hygiene routine easier.
Are you ready to start enjoying the benefits of transitioning from traditional dentures to dental implants? Reach out to your periodontist today to schedule a consultation and take the first step toward a sturdier, more stable smile!
About the Practice
At Rocky Mountain Periodontal Specialists, our periodontists offer all kinds of services in order to help our patients achieve healthier grins. We can use dental implants to replace any number of teeth; in particular, we offer implant dentures for those who are suffering from extensive tooth loss. To schedule a consultation at our office in Colorado Springs, visit our website or call (719) 574-4867.