Implant Supported Dentures: How Many Implants Are Recommended?

Implant-supported dentures combine dental implants with dentures. It involves placing implants in the patient's jaw and attaching dentures to the implants. This provides more stability than traditional dentures so the wearer does not have to worry about their artificial teeth constantly shifting as they eat and speak.

How many implants are needed for implant supported dentures

The installation of implant supported dentures involves placing four to six implants in each half of the patient's jaw. Four implants are used in most cases, but the dentist might decide to use more implants if they think that it will make the patient's dentures more stable.

How implant supported dentures are installed

Before getting implants, patients are evaluated by dentists to determine if they are ideal candidates for the prosthetics. Ideal candidates are free of health conditions, like diabetes, that can hinder their recovery after surgery, and their jawbone should be thick enough to hold implants in place. During the installation of implant dentures, dentists typically use CT scans to pinpoint the thickest parts of the patient's jaw. These areas are typically where the implants are inserted.

However, patients who have had missing teeth for a while and explored other options, such as traditional dentures, might have lost some of their jawbone tissue over time. Such patients might need to get bone grafts before being cleared for implants. It takes about three months to recover from bone grafts, and patients need to be fully healed to get implants.

The installation of implants is a surgical procedure and often involves the use of local anesthetics. General anesthetics might be used at times, but that is usually a last resort. During the process, the implants are inserted into each half of the patient's jaw that will be fitted with dentures.

Temporary dentures might be immediately attached to the implants to restore the patient's smile. The implants will continue to fuse with the patient's jawbone over the next six months. The process is called osseointegration and gives the implants extra stability.

Once the implants are fused in place, the dentist takes out any temporary dentures used and installs a customized set. Implant dentures can be non-removable or removable. The latter ones are just like traditional dentures except they are held in place via implants instead of suction. This significantly improves the wearer's experience.

Non-removable implant dentures are even better. These restorations are permanently fixed in place and only require good oral hygiene for maintenance. With non-removable implant dentures, patients get a solution for their missing teeth that is much like having real teeth.

Explore a better solution

Implant supported dentures allow you to avoid using bad-tasting dental adhesives and constantly being worried about your dentures falling. With implant supported dentures, such embarrassing moments are simply not a possibility. The prosthetics are firmly held in place, making it easier to speak and chew with your dentures. Call or visit our Coral Gables clinic to learn more about how our dentist can replace your missing teeth with dental implants.

Request an appointment here: https://www.gablesexceptionaldentistry.com or call Gables Exceptional Dentistry at (305) 203-4132 for an appointment in our Coral Gables office.

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