Denture Replacement Choices

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(949) 551-5902

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4330 Barranca Parkway, Suite 140
Irvine, CA 92604

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You can say goodbye to dentures, with our options for implant teeth. Here are some of the types:

Non-Removable Implant Teeth

This type of implant teeth is the best option to completely eliminate dentures. It results in a non-removable implant supported teeth that stay in your mouth, just like natural ones. They are attached to the implants with very high strength.

Upper Implant Teeth

Lower Implant Teeth

If screws are used to attach implant teeth to implants, the screws have very high rates of loosening, causing frustration. Therefore the best way to attach teeth to implants is with high-strength dental cements.

These teeth are non-removable and have a solid "feel" that is the most natural for chewing. In addition, this type of replacement teeth is the most streamlined in size of any implant tooth replacement option. They are easily cleaned and they restore facial support.

This type of replacement tooth also prevents the further loss of jaw bone.

Removable Implant-Supported Teeth

This option provides another way to stabilize or completely eliminate a denture. Though fewer implants can be used for this type of teeth (3 or 4 implants when only stabilizing), there is a higher risk for replacement of one or more implants over the years, due to fewer implants handling the same chewing stresses.

The benefits this type of implant-supported teeth is that they eliminate jaw bone loss, loose dentures, sore spots from dentures, food under dentures, and embarrassing denture slippage. This option also restores facial support. In addition, the biting force is much greater than with dentures, resulting in a more natural bite.

REmovable Implant Bar

This example is how a custom bar with implants can be used to stabilize a denture, resulting in very solid feeling to the implant-supported teeth.

The only difference between this type of implant-supported teeth and the one above is that the teeth are still removable and they require more bulk for strength. The teeth are retained by the design of the supporting bar and with attachments inside the teeth. Five implants or more are required for this type of treatment. It also allows for fixed implant-supported teeth later, should you choose to 'upgrade' your implant teeth. There is less bulk than with a traditional upper denture, making for more tongue room and improved food enjoyment because the palate is no longer covered.

Locators

This is an example of how a "ball and hitch" implant attachment can make a denture stable for chewing and to reduce sore spots.

This option is good compared to no implants at all, and it can greatly reduce bulk when compared to an upper denture. The main disadvantages are that the teeth are removable and the attachments require replacing every 2 to 5 years at minimal cost.

"Mini" Dental Implants

Mini dental implants provide a way to stabilize a denture with the least cost. Though this can provide a long-term solution, the stress placed on this type of implant results in more failures.

The denture is still bulky but is more stable and doesn't "jump up" quite so much, thanks to the silicone rings inside of the denture. These implants help prevent bone loss and are easy to clean. It is possible to remove mini implants and to replace them with regular implants. This does require a more complicated surgery and more expense later, in order to do so.

Complete Dentures

Though they provide a short-term cost savings, dentures are far more costly over the long term, because of the complexity in correcting the bone destruction to the jaws caused by the denture.

If dentures are worn long enough, the jaw bone erodes to the point where no denture can be satisfactorily worn, and jaw bone fracture is common. Once the jaw has eroded to this point, the only solution is to take a bone graft from the hip and place it into the jaw to allow for tooth replacement.

Without this bone graft, the patient can plan on having no replacement teeth for many years in the so-called "golden years" of life.