Implant Supported Dentures in North Royalton OH

If you've had a tooth removed, either because of an accident or decay, you don't have to settle for a gap in your smile. In fact, with advances in dental technology, implant-supported dentures can restore your healthy grin plus promote greater oral health! The team at North Royalton Family Dental can create custom dental implants created just for you, giving you a more natural, permanent alternative to dentures or a dental bridge.

Today, we're talking more about implant support dentures, the process, and the benefits for our patients.

What Are Implant-Supported Dentures?

Implant-supported dentures are porcelain or composite resin crowns that are affixed to an artificial tooth root implanted into your jaw, completely replacing both the tooth and the root of a missing tooth. These are permanent replacements for a tooth that's missing due to an accident, disease, or other reason. Dental implants mimic the structure of natural teeth, and as such, offer both a confidence booster and health benefits.

What Are the Benefits of Implant-Supported Dentures?

The jaw bone constantly regenerates, maintaining its size and shape in order to support the teeth in your mouth. If the jaw is no longer required to support the tooth (that is, if the root of one or more teeth and the tooth itself are removed), then the bone begins to atrophy. This can lead to facial disfiguration as well as a thinner jawbone that's more fragile than it should be.

Replacing a missing tooth with an implant, one that's fitted into the socket, instead of replacing it with a bridge or traditional dentures, stimulates the jaw once again, maintaining the shape of the face and the alignment of the teeth. Plus, the stability of a dental implant provides opposite pressure for the teeth surrounding it, preventing teeth from shifting in the mouth.

Other benefits of a dental implant include a more natural experience. Because the implants are crafted to match a natural tooth, including creating it to fit your specific mouth, you'll have an easier time talking, chewing, singing, or otherwise using your mouth. After you get used to the implant, it will simply feel like just another tooth. You can brush and floss normally, and not have to worry about the implant slipping when you're talking.

Finally, dental implants are longer-lasting than dentures or bridges; with care, they can last just as long as the rest of the teeth in your mouth.

Am I a Good Candidate For Dental Implants?

If you have enough jawbone to support the dental implant, you should be a good candidate for implant-supported dentures, although you'll wish to consult with your dentist to be sure. However, if it's been a few years since you've had the tooth removed, your jawbone may not have enough structure to support the implant. In these cases, you'll need a bone graft first, then the implant can be inserted into the socket. If you're in overall good health and have good oral hygiene habits already, you may be an ideal candidate for implant-supported dentures.

The Dental Implant Procedure

Placing dental implants is actually a multi-step process. First, if you need a bone graft to support the denture or dentures, that will need to be completed and healed. Bone grafting tissue comes from the patient themselves, typically from the skull, patella, or hip. Small pieces of your own bone are placed where your jawbone is thinner, and then a special sealant on top, which protects the incision site and encourages the fusion of the slivers and your jaw. Once this is complete, you'll have your next stage.

Dental implants are two parts: a biocompatible metal "root", usually fashioned out of titanium, and then the porcelain or composite resin crown that screws on top. First, your dentist places the root into the empty socket, through the gum, and attaches it directly into the jaw. Then, this is allowed to heal, which can take about a month or two. During this time, the dentist will monitor the condition of the socket and its healing.

While you're healing from the root placement, your crown is being custom-made in a dental lab. Crowns can be tinted to match your other teeth, making them virtually indistinguishable. It's specially measured to fit snugly in the space and shaped to perform in the same manner as the missing tooth. That is, molars are shaped like molars, with the grooves for chewing, front teeth slimmer, and incisors pointy for biting.

The completed crown is secured onto the root, and then may be shaved or shaped to fit precisely. Then, you'll have a few days of recovery before you can resume normal activities, plus a follow-up appointment within a few months so your dentist can assess the fit.

Schedule Your Dental Implant Consultation Today!

Choose Dr. Nathaniel M. Taylor and the North Royalton Family Dental team for your implant-supported dentures. With plenty of experience custom-fitting dental implants and an office with leading-edge dental technology, we can give you personalized treatment and custom-fitted teeth replacement to boost your confidence and improve your oral health. Don't delay your implant procedure – contact us today for a personalized consultation!