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Traditional dentures can restore your smile after tooth loss, but some people eventually want greater stability and a solution that feels more secure when eating and speaking. If you already wear dentures, dental implants may provide another option for replacing your missing teeth.
Moving From Dentures to Dental Implants
How long you have worn dentures does not by itself determine whether you can get dental implants. Some people who have worn dentures for many years still have enough healthy jawbone for implant placement, while others may need additional treatment first.
We evaluate your jawbone, gums, overall health, and the type of implant-supported restoration being considered to determine which options may be available.
How Denture Wear Changes the Jawbone
After teeth are lost, the jawbone that once supported them begins to change. This process can continue while you wear dentures because conventional removable dentures rest on the gums rather than transferring chewing forces through implants into the jawbone.
As bone volume decreases, the shape of the jaw can change. This is one reason a denture that once fit securely may become loose or require adjustments over time.
When Bone Grafting May Be Needed
Not having enough bone for an implant does not necessarily mean implant treatment is no longer an option. Depending on the location and extent of bone loss, we may be able to rebuild part of the jaw before placing implants.
Dental bone grafting adds or preserves bone where additional support is needed. When implant placement cannot occur at the same time, the graft needs time to heal and integrate before the site can support an implant.
Not everyone who has worn dentures needs bone grafting. We determine that based on the anatomy of your jaw and the implant treatment being planned.
Dental Implant Options for Denture Wearers
Dental implants can provide different levels of support depending on what you want to change about your current dentures. Some treatments improve the stability of a removable denture, while others replace it with a fixed full-arch restoration.
Depending on your needs and anatomy, treatment may involve:
- Implant-supported dentures: A removable denture that attaches to dental implants for greater stability and support.
- Fixed full-arch dental implants: Full-arch dental implants: A fixed replacement for an entire arch of missing teeth supported by dental implants. All-on-4 is one approach that uses four or more strategically placed implants to support a full-arch restoration.
The appropriate option depends on your jawbone, oral health, treatment goals, and the type of restoration that will provide the function and stability you are looking for.
Planning Your Dental Implant Treatment
Your evaluation helps us understand how years of tooth loss and denture wear have affected your jaw and which implant options may be appropriate. We consider factors such as:
- The amount and quality of available jawbone
- The health of your gums and oral tissues
- The location of important anatomical structures
- Your medical history and medications
- Smoking or tobacco use
- The type of implant-supported restoration being planned
Even when significant bone loss has occurred, dental implants may still be possible. Dr. Thompson can evaluate your jaw, determine whether additional procedures such as bone grafting may be needed, and develop a treatment plan based on your anatomy and goals.
Explore Your Dental Implant Options
If you wear dentures and are interested in a more stable or fixed option for replacing your teeth, the next step is a consultation with Dr. Thompson. He can evaluate your jaw, discuss what you would like to improve about your current dentures, and explain which implant options may be appropriate for you.
To book an appointment at our oral surgery office in Deer Park, IL, call (847) 381-0106 or visit us at 21660 W. Field Parkway, Suite 220, Deer Park, IL.
FAQs
Not necessarily. Whether you can wear a temporary or modified denture during treatment depends on the procedures performed and where the implants are placed. We can explain what you can wear during healing as part of your treatment plan.
Sometimes, but an existing denture cannot simply be assumed to work with newly placed implants. Its fit, condition, design, and the planned implant system determine whether it can be modified or whether a new prosthesis will be needed.
The number varies according to the type of implant-supported denture, the anatomy of the jaw, and the treatment plan. We determine implant number and placement based on the support needed for the planned restoration rather than using one number for every patient.
