Dental Implant Retained Dentures - Lincoln, NE
Giving You Back a Confidant, Beautiful Smile
Dentures are a tried and true method for replacing missing teeth for edentulous (no remaining teeth) patients. Dentures restore the ability to eat a wider variety of foods, speak clearly, and smile confidently. Innovations in denture technology make most dentures fit comfortably and securely using just natural suction, avoiding messy, bad-tasting dental adhesives. However, all the advantages offered by dentures do not prevent many of the detrimental effects of tooth loss.
Because dentures do not replace the tooth root system, patients with dentures can experience increased wrinkles and sagging skin around the mouth as gum tissue volume is gradually reduced by the pressure from dentures. Without stimulation from the root, the jawbone also loses density over time, and no matter how well patients care for their denture, they will need to be refitted multiple times over the life of the denture as bone and gum tissue is lost. With dental implant retained dentures in Lincoln, NE, patients can replace missing teeth from the roots up instead, improving oral health.
The Dental Implant Process
Patients who choose to upgrade to implant-supported dentures first need to schedule an appointment for a dental implant consultation. During an initial consultation, Dr. Olberding examines patients’ teeth, gums, and jaw with the help of X-rays, digital images, and impressions. Using this information, the dentist determines whether the patient is a successful candidate for implant restoration.
One of the main reasons patients are unable to receive dental implants is that they have inadequate gum tissue volume or jawbone density to support an implant post. In this case, your dentist may suggest bone or gum tissue grafts. The All-on-4 implant-retained denture system is another option that utilizes naturally denser bone structure in the front of the jaw to support dentures.
Patients who choose dental implant restoration will need to undergo an additional examination and assessment to determine how many implants are needed and also allow our team to create a custom treatment plan. The patient then schedules an appointment, during which titanium implant posts are surgically placed below the gum line.
To support a full denture, there is no need to place one implant for each individual tooth. Instead, patients typically receive five to eight evenly distributed implants that support the denture. Once the implants are placed, patients undergo a period of healing that can last three to six months. During this time, the implant post fuses with the jawbone, mimicking natural root structure. Once the implants fuse with the jawbone, a dental prosthetic is permanently attached. For some patients, we can refit existing dentures to be attached to the implant posts, saving time and money.
Benefits of Dental Implant Retained Dentures Over Traditional Dentures
- Patients regain 70% of chewing function.
- Bone and gum tissue is preserved.
- There’s no need to remove dentures for cleaning or sleeping.
- There’s no fear of slipping and sliding dentures.
- You can retain natural a facial shape and structure.
Find Out More Today
If you are interested in restoring your smile with an implant-retained dental prosthetic, contact Olberding Dental to schedule your implant consultation. Our Lincoln dentistry team is happy to answer questions, address concerns, and make treatment recommendations that work for any patient.