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When a person is missing many teeth, it's important that he or she consider various options for replacing these teeth. There are many compelling reasons for this. For one, the appearance of a smile is adversely affected when there are major gaps in a smile. In addition, the aesthetics of the lips and cheeks can appear sunken in or slack. On top of this, eating certain foods can be very difficult, speech impediments may occur, and bone loss and gum recession are likely in the area of the tooth gap.

When you meet with cosmetic dentistry experts, you'll be able to learn about your many options for advanced restorative dental care. Right now, we'd like to consider how dentures supported by dental implants may be the ideal option for you and your needs.

About Dentures

Dentures are sets of artificial teeth that are intended to replace multiple teeth in a row. There are partial dentures and full dentures available depending on the extent of a patient's tooth loss. When dentures are removable, they latch onto the remaining gum tissue and bone structure. Dental adhesive creams can be used to improve the stability of the denture.

Why get dentures supported by dental implants?

Dental implants are artificial tooth roots that are surgically placed into the patient's jaw bone and gum tissue. There are many advantages that these offer over removable dentures:

• Increased Stability - Dental implants offer much greater stability and a much firmer hold than removable dentures. When a denture is locked in place with dental implants, it is unlikely to come loose while eating or speaking.
• No Need for Dental Adhesives - With dental implants holding dentures in place, there is no need for adhesives or creams to keep the denture in place.
• Better for Dental Health - Dental implants provide the jaw bone and gums with root structure to support, halting the progression of bone loss and gum recession.

Ideal Candidates for Dental Implants

The best candidates for dentures supported by dental implants are people who are missing multiple teeth. They should be healthy enough to undergo oral surgery and they should have sufficient jaw bone structure and gum tissue to support dental implants.

What to Expect from the Implant Dentistry Process

After the surgical placement of the dental implants, patients will need to heal for a few months to ensure that the dental implants fuse with the bone and gum tissue. This process is known as osseointegration and it generally takes between three to four months.

Alternatives to Implant-Supported Dentures

For less extensive tooth loss, a dental bridge may be used instead of a denture. The dental bridge can be supported using dental implants as well.

If a patient does not have sufficient bone and/or gum tissue to support dental implants, a bone grafting or soft tissue grafting surgery can be performed to build up this matter. This process will add several more months to the treatment process since it's important for the grafted tissue to heal completely before placing the dental implants.

During your consultation, we will be more than happy to go over all of these matters in greater detail.

Learn More About Advanced Dental Care Treatments

If you would like to learn more about your many options out there for dealing will tooth loss and other serious dental health issues, be sure to contact our Phoenix cosmetic dentistry center today. The entire team here looks forward to meeting you in person and helping you achieve the best possible dental health and wellness.