DENTURES IN JACKSONVILLE, FL
WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR DENTURES?
Dentures may be the right restorative solution for patients who are looking for affordability, convenience, and speed of repair. These types of prosthetics don’t have roots like natural teeth, and they won’t be anchored in any way to your mouth. Instead, dentures simply rest on top of the soft tissue and can be removed whenever the patient desires.
Although finding the right denture can be a challenge for some patients, Dr. Ryan is an experienced prosthodontic specialist who can design the ideal prosthetic for your mouth. The final result will look beautifully natural and feel very comfortable when worn. Please contact us here in Jacksonville to schedule a consultation. We’ll evaluate your oral health and help you to find the best tooth replacement solution for your unique needs.
WHAT ARE FULL DENTURES?
There are two major types of traditional dentures – complete and partial. Complete (or full) dentures are necessary when a patient has lost all of the natural teeth along an arch of the mouth, while partials fill in spaces along the arch and allow natural teeth to stay safely in place.
Additionally, complete dentures may be conventional or immediate in nature. Conventional dentures are not made until after all remaining teeth have been removed from the desired arch and the patient’s gum tissue has fully healed. This process will likely take at least 4-6 weeks. Alternatively, immediate dentures are created in advance of this process so that they can be provided to the patient right away. This means that they won’t have to spend any time without the teeth they need.
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Also called a Traditional Denture or Conventional Denture. Complete (or full) dentures are necessary when a patient has lost all of the natural teeth along an arch of the mouth. Additionally, complete dentures may be conventional or immediate. Conventional dentures are not made until after all remaining teeth have been removed from the desired arch and the patient’s gum tissue has fully healed. This process will likely take at least four to six weeks. Alternatively, immediate dentures are created in advance of the tooth extraction and soft tissue healing process, so they can be provided to the patient right away. This means that patients won’t have to spend any time without the teeth they need to speak, chew, and smile with complete confidence.
WHAT ARE PARTIAL DENTURES?
Partial dentures are used to fill the gaps in patients’ smiles. To create a partial denture, a gum-colored base material is used to support several replacement teeth within a single prosthetic. The partial denture is attached to the surrounding teeth for support. Partial dentures allow patients to retain any healthy tooth structure while restoring full structure to the patient’s smile.
WHAT IS AN IMPLANT RETAINED DENTURE?
Sometimes referred to as Snap-On Dentures. An implant-retained denture uses small posts to replace the roots of missing teeth. These implant posts can be used to support either partials or full dentures closely mimicking the natural function of your smile. You can choose to receive a fixed implant denture or a removable overdenture based on your specific needs. Fixed implant dentures are attached by our Prosthodontist and need to be removed by a dentist. You can brush your fixed implant-supported replacement teeth just like regular teeth, and they offer a long-lasting tooth replacement option. Overdentures offer a combination of the benefits of implant fixed dentures and removable dentures. They are snapped into place over dental implants, but patients are able to remove them on their own at home for ease of cleaning and comfort during sleep.
IMPLANT RETAINED VS. IMPLANT SUPPORTED
IMPLANT-RETAINED DENTURES (SNAP-ON DENTURES)
Implant-retained dentures are a great alternative to conventional dentures for patients who require the replacement of many teeth. Implant-retained dentures do not require many dental implants; depending on the situation, the addition of two to six implants can restore an entire arch of teeth to function closely to natural teeth. Requiring less implants makes implant-retained dentures more affordable and less invasive than implant-supported dentures. This type of denture makes it easier to talk and eat without discomfort, but the dentures do still need to be removed at night to be cleaned.
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Implant-retained dentures may be a good option for those who do not mind removing and cleaning their teeth at night, or for those who are okay with avoiding very sticky and chewy foods. They’re also a good choice for balancing the cost versus the functional benefits.
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IMPLANT-SUPPORTED DENTURES
This type of denture offers the most natural solution to dentures. The denture teeth are still one unit similar to implant-retained dentures; however, they are permanently fixed to the implants below. Implant-supported dentures are not removed for cleaning, cannot dislodge, and can take the full force of a bite. However, achieving this effective option often requires higher expenses. Implant-supported dentures typically require more dental implants to support the denture teeth which is generally a more invasive procedure. These dentures may also require bone and soft tissue regeneration to complete the procedure with a natural and beautiful appearing smile.
Implant-supported dentures are worn at all times even at night, which makes people with TMJ or sleep apnea candidates for this type of implant. The dentures are typically designed with these conditions in mind not to worsen them. These dentures are also a good option for those who want to avoid having removable dentures and don’t mind the higher price point.
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IMPLANT-RETAINED DENTURE
IMPLANT-SUPPORTED DENTURE
If you’re ready to learn more about implant dentures, contact us at Parkway Prosthodontics in Jacksonville, FL. We make your visit as seamless as possible by providing new patient forms. Dr. Kathryn Ryan is one of the top implant dentists in the North Florida area.
ARE SNAP-IN DENTURES THE SAME AS ALL-ON-4?
Snap-in dentures are easy to confuse with the All-on-4 method. These procedures require multiple visits, sometimes to multiple doctors, and months of healing. They require the patient to wear temporary teeth. They are, however, not the same thing.
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With All-on-Four the patient does not remove the teeth on a day-to-day basis, as they are attached permanently. A fixed bridge supports the teeth on four titanium rods. The All-on Four is a low-maintenance, relatively permanent solution. All-on-Four teeth should be cared for as if they were natural. Snap-in dentures require more attention but can be more cost-effective.
