13 January 2017
Dental Implants Manchester – Say Goodbye To Unstable Dentures
As a dentist in Cheadle Hulme we regularly place dental implants in Manchester patients to replace their missing teeth and restore their smile. However, there are times when we see patients that are perfectly happy to wear dentures but unhappy with the fact that they tend to slip around in their mouths, often causing pain and embarrassment. The good news is that like many a didsbury dentist we can also use dental implants to secure their dentures firmly to their gums.
When patients are missing many or all of their teeth, then it’s impractical to replace them all with individual dental implants, not just because of the expense, but because of the level of surgery required. Conversely, dentures are a cost effective way to replace multiple teeth and can be held securely in place with dental implants. Manchester patients who have experienced implant-retained dentures tell us they can’t believe the improvement that this makes to their lives.
So what other benefits do implant retained dentures have? A Didsbury dentist explains:
Implant retained dentures require very little surgery since a lower denture may only need two conventional implants to hold it in place. An alternative is 4 ‘mini’ implants requiring minimal surgery which are attached to a patient’s dentures immediately. Of course, there are advantages and disadvantages to both types of implants and your Cheadle Hulme dentist will discuss your best options. The bottom line is however that retained dentures will transform your ability to chew food and to smile with confidence.
But that’s not all, here are some other benefits:
- No further need for messy denture adhesives and cleaning tablets
- A vastly improved bite force allowing you to eat what you want and enjoy food again
- Implants help to preserve the remaining bone in your jaws, maintaining facial structure
- Wrinkles around the mouth are minimised because implants restore fullness around the lips and cheeks…and finally….
- No more embarrassing moments when your dentures slip as you’re talking or eating
How does they work?
Implant retained dentures are more commonly made for the lower jaw because for the majority of people this is the area that is most unstable. A patient needs to have sufficient bone in their jaw to be able to support an implant, but if this isn’t the case, a bone graft can often be used to grow more bone. Alternatively in certain cases mini implants may be used.
The implants are usually placed towards the front of the mouth, since this is the area which tends to have more bone. When placing dental implants, Manchester patients will be offered methods of dental sedation if they feel particularly anxious. There are two main types of implant retained denture – bar retained and ball retained. The former uses a thin metal bar, attached to the dental implants, which follows the curve of the jaw. Special attachments are then fitted to the denture, the bar, or both. The denture then clips into position over the bar and can be easily removed by the patient for cleaning.
The ball retained denture uses a ball shaped attachment on top of the implants which then fits into corresponding sockets on the denture. Again the wearer can remove their denture as and when necessary. Sometimes the patient’s existing denture can be modified, other times a new custom denture will made. According to whether conventional or mini implants are used to secure the dentures, the entire process can take several months from start to finish, although much of this time it spent waiting for the implants to fuse with the surrounding bone.
After the procedure is complete you will need to visit your dentist in Cheadle Hulme every six to 12 months so that they can check that the implants are in good working order, and that the denture fits comfortably.
If you’re interested to learn more about implant retained dentures or dental implants Manchester and whether they would be a suitable option for you, contact our Didsbury dentist at Church Road Dental and Cosmetics. We’ve got years of dental implant experience so call us today on 0161 486 0743.
