Fixed Dentures vs. Removable Dentures

Aesthetics aren’t the only reason many patients turn to dentures when they suffer with missing teeth—often patients use dentures as a means to chew food properly, protect their gums and improve speech. Dental technology offers patients a variety of denture types, they differ based on structure and design. The two most commonly used types of dentures are fixed and removable.

Until recently, most denture wearers opted for removable dentures—they are easy to maintain and, for the most part, comfortable to wear. But over time, removable dentures can become ill fitting—causing the dentures to shift in the mouth, especially while the wearer is speaking and eating.  This can lead to awkward social situations—not to mention difficulty chewing certain foods.  For these reasons, more patients are turning to fixed dentures.

Fixed dentures look and act the same as removable dentures, however the wearer isn’t able to remove the dentures on their own. The denture arc, whether upper, lower or full set, are stabilized through the use of dental implants, structures that act as tooth ‘roots’ to stabilize dentures for a look and feel that is completely natural.

The dental implant procedure involves placement of the implant into the jawbone using specialized tools. The patient will receive a local anesthetic, after which small incisions are made in the gum line to expose the jawbone below. The implants are then placed into the jawbone so that only the head, or abutment, is exposed above the gum line.

A metal housing is then attached to the denture arc, one will coincide with each implant placed, and the metal housings ‘snap’ the dentures onto the implants and hold them firmly in place, creating a naturally beautiful smile.

Since fixed dentures cannot be removed, they may become susceptible to inflammation and other oral problems—but regular visits to your dentist for maintenance greatly reduces the chances of that happening. Patients will find that fixed dentures are more costly than removable dentures, however the benefits of the procedure can be well worth the added cost.

If you are looking to replace missing teeth and are considering dentures, speak with your dentist today and determine if fixed or removable dentures are the best option for you.

About Mini Dental Implants

Mini dental implants, also known as MDI’s, are a miniature titanium dental implant that acts as a tooth root replacement for those patients looking to replace broken, decaying, damaged or missing teeth. Mini dental implants are revolutionary in design because they are significantly thinner than the traditional dental implants, allowing for a higher success rate in patient placement.

The mini dental implant device is a single titanium screw complete with a ball-shaped head (also known as an abutment). The abutment acts as a "snap" that snaps into a socket-like connector. This connector is a retaining fixture that is incorporated into the base of the dental prosthetic (dentures, crown, bridge, etc.).

The nature of the retaining fixture is unique as it achieves a connection using a rubber o-ring inside the socket connector. The design provides adequate retaining force to hold the dental prosthetics in place so that they may look and act like natural teeth. However, when additional force is applied, the retaining fixtures can be removed, allowing for maintenance or cleaning.

Mini Dental implants are just what their name implies—they are considerably smaller than their traditional counterparts. Most MDI’s are 2 millimeters in diameter as opposed to traditional implants, which are 4-5.75 millimeters.

Mini dental implants have increased in popularity as the procedures have become easier, less invasive and more successful.  Success rates have only grown as patients have continued to undergo treatment.

One of the reasons for continued success with MDI’s is the cost. With any dental procedure, the overall cost is always an important aspect for patient consideration. Those considering mini dental implants will find that they are significantly less expensive when compared to traditional implants. In some cases, they can be as much as 60% cheaper.

Not only do patients find the MDI treatment affordable, but they also take advantage of its speed. In most cases, the treatment can be completed in less than two hours—meaning patients only need a single dental visit to complete their smile. In addition, its minimally invasive nature means patients can undergo treatment without the requirement of downtime. Patients will have full use of their teeth immediately following treatment.

Find out more about mini dental implants today and see if this revolutionary treatment is right for you.

Bone Grafting for Dental Implants

Dental implants are an ideal solution for those men and women struggling with an imperfect smile due to broken, damaged, decayed or missing teeth. However, when it comes to implantation, not all patients are ideal candidates—this is most often due to a lack of quality and quantity of bone in the jaw. Because of this, more patients are turning to bone grafting for dental implants in order to experience success.

Dental implants require a certain quality and quantity of bone in the jaw for successful implantation. If patients do not have enough bone present in the jaw, the bone can be rebuilt through modern bone grafting techniques. Bone grafts are designed to build up or fill in jawbone defects for dental implant placement.

Four types of bone grafts are generally used, Autografts, Allografts, Xenografts and Alloplastic Grafts:

Autografts: this type of bone graft utilizes bone from your own body. The bone is generally harvested from the mouth or the hip. Autografts are the ideal form of bone grafting for dental implants because it is your own bone and therefore very compatible with your body. This grafting technique usually results in the greatest regeneration of missing jawbone.

Allografts: are bone grafts taken from human donors. Bone obtained in this manor is rigorously tested and thoroughly sterilized. Once placed, your body "converts" the donor bone into your natural bone, thereby rebuilding your jawbone for successful implantation.

Xenografts: are bone grafts harvested from animals. The animal bone, which is most commonly bovine (cow), undergoes a special process to make it both sterile and biocompatible. Xenografts act as bone fillers, which in time your body will replace with natural bone.

Alloplastic Grafts: are bone grafts consisting of man made synthetic materials. The most commonly used man made material that mimics natural bone is calcium phosphate. Depending on how the graft is made, it will be either "resorbable" or "non-resorbable", meaning your body may or may not replace the graft with natural bone.  When the Alloplastic Grafts are not replaced with natural bone, they act as a scaffold upon which natural bone is built—resulting in the creation of enough bone for successful implantation.

Modern bone grafting techniques are ideal for those patients needing bone replacement in order to undergo successful implantation. Should this treatment be recommended by your dentist, you will be given further information on the type, location and amount of graft needed in order to perfect your smile.

Types of Dental Implants

There are several types of dental implants available to patients looking to replace damaged, decaying or missing teeth, each are designed to help individual patients based on certain criteria. During the implant procedure, your dentist will surgically place the implant or implants directly into the jawbone. Traditional implants required a certain amount of bone quality and quantity for successful implantation, however, through the progression of technology, different types of implants have been developed for those patients that may not have been initial candidates. 

Dental Implant Types

Most implants are made of titanium, an inert metal that has been proven to effectively fuse with living bone, a process known as "Osseointegration". Implants vary based on size and structure, each are designed to aid in successful implantation for patients. The following are the most common forms of dental implantation:

Root Form: "Root Form" implants are similar in shape to the root of a tooth—they are a cylindrical or screw type implant with a surface area designed to uphold a strong attachment to the bone. Root Form implants are the most widely used design and are generally placed where a plentiful width and depth of jawbone is present. In certain instances, if the jawbone is too narrow or short for immediate placement using Root Form implants, your dentist may recommend bone grafting.

Plate Form: When the jawbone is too narrow for Root Form placement and is not a successful candidate for bone grafting, a specially designed implant called the “Plate Form” implant can be placed. The process used to place the implant is identical to Root Form implants, however the Plate Form implant is flat and long—ideally designed to fit into the narrow jawbone.

Subperiosteal: When, due to advanced jawbone reabsorption after bone grafting, there may not be enough bone width or height for either Root Form or Plate Form implants to be successful, a Subperiosteal Implant may be used. This type of implant is custom made and designed to sit on top of the bone, but under the gum line. This type of implant does require a more extensive surgical procedure, however it does allow patients to experience successful implantation.

Knowing which type of dental implant is right for you will require a consultation with your dentist. Find out today dental implantation can help you to restore your smile.

Replacing Missing Teeth with Mini Dental Implants

For broken, decaying and damaged teeth, there are many dental treatments patients can undergo to restore their smile, but when it comes to missing teeth, there’s no better treatment for replacing missing teeth than with mini dental implants. Whether it’s a single tooth, a group of teeth, a full arch of teeth or a full set of teeth, MDI’s are a safe and effective way to achieve a naturally beautiful smile with long-lasting results.

Until recently, patients replacing missing teeth could only rely on bridges (which rely on support from surrounding teeth—ultimately leading to damage and decay down the road) and removable dentures (which are prone to causing embarrassment and discomfort). Mini dental implants offer an innovative solution to the problem of missing teeth. They provide the stability needed to complete everyday tasks such as speaking and eating with ease, all with a smile that looks and feels completely natural.

Replacing missing teeth with mini dental implants is both simple and straightforward. The treatment is performed at your dentist’s office using a local anesthetic. Once administered, your dentist will use a special drill, to drill small holes through the gum line and into the jawbone—this creates space for implant placement. A special wrench-like tool will then be used to tighten or ‘screw’ the implant into the jawbone, providing root-like stability for a dental prosthetic (crown, bridge or dentures).

Once properly placed, only the ball-shaped head, otherwise known as the abutment, will be visible above the gum line. At this time, your dentist will attach a metal housing to your dental prosthetic—this is what attaches the prosthetic to the implant. The metal housing is socket-like in nature and contains an o-ring, which works to effectively ‘snap’ the prosthetic onto the abutment, creating a secure seal.

The result is stable support for a dental prosthetic that looks and feels like a real tooth or teeth. Replacing missing teeth with mini dental implants is safe, quick and provides long-lasting results. Consult with your dentist today and see if this procedure can help you to replace your missing teeth for a naturally beautiful smile that lasts.

Immediate Dental Implants

Replacing broken, damaged, decayed and missing teeth is something that many men and women are currently considering, but oftentimes potential patients hesitate because they feel cost and time will be too involved. With immediate dental implants, patients can have the look and feel of natural teeth with just a single visit to the dentist. Imagine walking into your dentist’s office with missing teeth and walking out with a naturally beautiful smile. It’s possible with mini dental implants.

Mini dental implants are an innovative way for patients to replace missing teeth quickly, easily and with long lasting results. Performed right in your dentist’s office, the treatment begins with the administration of a local anesthetic. Your dentist will then drill small holes through the gum line and into the jaw bone—this is where the dental implants will be inserted (the amount of implants needed will vary from patient to patient depending on the amount of teeth being replaced).

The implants are inserted into the jaw using a specialized wrench with effectively ‘screws’ each implant into place, providing security and stability. When the implant is properly placed, only the head, or abutment, of the implant will be visible above the jaw line. The abutment is what is used to attach the dental prosthetic (crown, bridge, dentures) to the implant for stable, secure results.

Depending on the dental prosthetic being used during treatment, some patients may have a temporary prosthetic placed until the implant has time to properly fuse with the jaw bone. In other cases, the permanent dental prosthetic will be placed during the same dental visit.  Either way, patients can walk out of their dentist’s office and can use their new teeth immediately.

Immediate dental implants are great for patients because they involve little to no pain, no downtime and offer immediate results.  For those who currently suffer with an imperfect smile, mini dental implants can offer you the solution you’re looking for without the hassle of several visits to the dentist that can span weeks if not months. Get the smile you’ve always wanted with immediate dental implants. Contact your dentist today to see if this treatment is right for you.

Affordable Dental Implants for Dentures

Do you often experience difficulty when eating the foods you love? Dentures can often cause problems for the men and women that have them, but now there is a better solution. Affordable dental implants for dentures provide patients with the ability to secure their dentures, for a look and feel that is completely natural. Why continue the daily struggle with removable dentures when there is a better solution?

Removable dentures are well known for causing problems for many patients. Loose, ill fitting dentures tend to shift in the mouth, especially while speaking and chewing—often leading to embarrassing situations. Removable dentures require readjustments, meaning more trips to the dentist.  Denture wearers spend a lot of time and money maintaining their smile, but now there is a more efficient way to maintain your smile.

Dental implants are a safe and effective way to get long-term denture stabilization at an affordable cost. The implant procedure is quick and easy and can be performed right in your dentist’s office. Your dentist will start by administering a local anesthetic, after which he or she will use a specialized drill to create holes in the jaw bone for implant insertion. The number of implants needed to stabilize dentures will vary for each patient. Once the holes are created in the jaw bone a specialized wrench will be used to tighten or ‘screw’ the implants in place. Once properly placed, only the implant head or abutment will be visible above the gum line.

Once the implants are placed your dentist will attach metal housings to your removable dentures, one for each implant. The metal housings are socket-like in nature and when attached to the implant head, snap into place, providing proper stabilization. When placed, the dentures will rest comfortably on the gum line, creating the look and feel of natural teeth.

 
For patients currently struggling with ill-fitting dentures, consider this easy, affordable option. Dental implants for dentures give you a naturally beautiful smile without the aggravation or embarrassment of removable dentures. Talk with your dentist today and see if dental implants are right for you.