The health industry strongly suggests that everyone brushes their teeth twice a day for two minutes each time and to floss at least daily. These same at-home oral hygiene habits need to be practiced with both your natural teeth and any replacement teeth. The bacterium in your mouth is always present and if you do not manage it, it will continue to accumulate damaging plaque on your teeth. This plaque will cause gum disease even with replacement teeth. We first will look at the implant supported denture procedure, the wonderful benefits that come with this restoration solution and then how you need to deliberately clean your dentures every day.
The Procedure in Getting Implant Supported Dentures
The dental implant is now the new gold standard for replacing a single tooth. A local anesthetic is administered to numb the immediate area, a small incision is created and then an exceedingly small hole is drilled into your jawbone. Next a small titanium post is placed into that hole. Once this post has had sufficient time to fuse and integrate with the jawbone an abutment or extension is added to the post to reach the surface of the gumline. An artificial crown is affixed to the abutment, and you now have a replacement tooth with an artificial root that looks and performs naturally.
The implant supported denture begins with this same process. An evaluation will determine if four or six titanium posts are needed to be implanted into your jawbone. After the healing time and the addition of the extensions, a flesh-colored acrylic tray with artificial crowns will now rest on your arch and those posts. The underside of the tray will have nylon clips that snap on to each post extensions. You now have a restoration that delivers the combined benefits of two solutions.
The Benefits of Choosing This Teeth Replacement Solution
The implant supported dentures will come at a higher initial cost, but they also come with a much longer life expectancy. Instead of traditional dentures lasting five to eight years they will now last over 20 years. The traditional set will often become uncomfortable. The implant posts not only provide a solid fit, but stability and strength as well. This stability will be appreciated with your bite, your chewing, and even when you talk. The implants provide another important benefit as they also promote the health of your jawbone by stymieing atrophy.
Good Daily Oral Hygiene Practices with Implant Supported Dentures
The implant supported dentures are designed to be removed every evening. It is much healthier for your gums. With your dentures removed you should brush your gums to remove any damaging plaque. Then you should brush the dentures for the same reason. Plaque will adhere to your restoration just like natural teeth. It will also help prevent staining of your artificial crowns. They should also spend the overnight submersed in a denture cleaning solution or even plain water. The tray may warp if not kept wet.
You should also continue to schedule exams every six months. This allows your dentist to inspect the restoration, to change any worn nylon clips and examine the condition of your gums.
