Implant Dentures – Tucson, AZ
A Lifelike, Reliable Way to Rebuild Your Smile
Dentures are a popular way to replace missing teeth because they’re often the most versatile and cost-effective option. However, they can eventually become ill-fitting, making it harder for them to remain firmly in place. This can make simple tasks, like eating and speaking, much more challenging and increase the risk of your teeth becoming destabilized or dislodged.
Fortunately, Dr. Fitzgerald offers a lifelike, reliable way to rebuild your smile with implant dentures. Continue reading to learn more about this service, and please contact the office to schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Sweet Smiles Family Dentistry and Orthodontics for Implant Dentures?
- Resilient, Long-Lasting Materials
- Help Preserve Your Jawbone Density
- Lifelike results to Boost Your Confidence
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What Are Implant Dentures?
After permanent teeth go missing, your jaw starts to thin because there are fewer roots to trigger new bone growth to keep it active and healthy. As a result, traditional dentures, which once fit like a glove, can become ill-fitting, contributing to sores, discomfort, changes in your speech patterns, and issues with biting and chewing.
Implant dentures combine the reliability of dental implants with the convenience and versatility of dentures. This treatment involves placing anywhere from two to eight posts into your jaw, which will be used to anchor a lifelike set of teeth to rebuild your arches. There are two types, which are outlined in more detail below:
Fixed/Permanent Implant Dentures
Unlike standard dentures, these lifelike restorations are typically not intended to be removed once they’re attached to your dental implants. This requires sufficient jawbone density to support your prosthetics, which may necessitate an additional bone graft if the foundation of your mouth has already begun to thin.
Removable Implant Dentures
This sometimes requires fewer posts than permanent implant dentures, and can therefore be better suited to those who have already lost some of their jawbone density. They are securely held in place with special ball-retained or bar-retained attachments, allowing them to snap into place and be easily removed for cleaning.
The Implant Denture Process
Once you’ve approved your treatment plan, our team will refer you to a local specialist for dental implant placement for high-quality outcomes you can rely on. This typically involves numbing and/or sedating you to help you feel calm and comfortable, then making incisions to place the required number of posts. It can take a few months to recover, because your mouth must generate enough new bone to fuse with these rods in a process called osseointegration.
Then, you’ll have another minor procedure to attach the connector pieces, or abutments. Finally, Dr. Fitzgerald will provide a beautiful set of teeth customized to resemble your natural enamel and connective tissues, delivering lifelike results that are unlikely to become unstable or dislodged.
Am I a Candidate for Implant Dentures
Because this treatment involves oral surgery, you must consult Dr. Fitzgerald to determine whether you’re a good candidate. For instance, you’ll need to demonstrate a commitment to your twice-daily dental hygiene routine, have sufficient jawbone density, healthy connective tissues, and positive general health to undergo the procedure.
Sometimes, additional services, like gum disease therapy or a bone graft procedure, are required before you can proceed. Our team will examine your teeth and gums and take X-rays or other images to help determine whether this popular service is right for you.
Benefits of Combining Dentures & Dental Implants
There are several excellent reasons to consider getting implant dentures with our team in Tucson, including:
- More reliable solution. Because your restoration is anchored to dental implants that fuse with your jawbone, these teeth are unlikely to become ill-fitting or fall out, helping to avoid costly repairs or replacements.
- Boosted confidence. They’re customized to look realistic and function more like natural teeth, helping you look and feel like your most self-assured self.
- Better bite force. Implants are the only prosthetic that can return up to 80% or more of your original chewing power, so you can enjoy more of your favorite foods.
- Improved enunciation. They’re held firmly in place, making it easier to pronounce different words and sounds to communicate clearly with others.
- Preserve your jawbone. Implants are also the only service that helps prevent jawbone degeneration and supports your teeth and facial structure.