Denture Stabilization
Tooth loss is common among adults over the age of 60 in the United States (US). In fact, there are millions of people in the US missing most of their natural teeth. However common the condition is, it doesn’t mean anyone should struggle with tooth loss. There are many popular dental treatments available for the replacement of missing teeth. While single dental implants are the most effective way to replace a single missing tooth, when a person needs to replace the majority of their teeth, replacement treatments can quickly get very expensive. Conventional dentures are a popular treatment option to replace many missing teeth quickly and cost effectively. Denture stabilization is an option that makes it possible for adults to take advantage of the affordability of conventional dentures, while also avoiding many of their drawbacks. Below is more information about denture options and how denture stabilization works.
What is Dental Stabilization?
Denture stabilization is a dental treatment where dental implants are securely placed in the mouth to provide the dentures a stable foundation. One of the biggest issues with conventional dentures is the shifting and slipping that can occur causing irritation and discomfort. Denture adhesive is an option to help hold dentures in place, but many patients complain about the constant bad taste in the mouth, making eating or drinking less enjoyable. Dental stabilization, or implant-supported dentures, is a treatment option that was designed to solve the slipping and sliding problem that occurs with conventional dentures.
Benefits of Denture Stabilization
There are many complaints commonly expressed by patients who wear conventional dentures. Some of the biggest complaints include not being able to eat everything, issues with speaking clearly, and issues with dental adhesives. Denture stabilization was designed to address many of these issues. Benefits of denture stabilization, or implant-supported dentures, over conventional dentures include:
- Improved ability to chew food, leading to better digestion and nutritional benefits
- Improved comfort
- Easier cleaning and daily maintenance that includes routine daily brushing and flossing
- Decrease in mouth sores caused by the slipping or rubbing of conventional dentures
- Improved ability to speak clearly
Why It is Important to Replace Missing Teeth
It is common for individuals who have missing teeth to not seek out tooth replacement treatments due to financial barriers or time constraints. In fact, many patients with missing teeth just plan to replace them in the future. What these individuals and many others do not realize is that having missing teeth in the mouth can lead to many other oral issues. Here are some of the issues that occur when an individual has missing teeth:
- Changing and shrinking of the facial structures, including the jaw and mouth
- Difficulty speaking and eating
- Premature aging: when the mouth structure starts to shrink it can make individuals look much older than they are
- Decreased self-esteem
- Spread of tooth decay: if tooth loss is caused by tooth decay, the decay and disease in the mouth will continue to spread and impact other teeth, eventually leading to the loss of more teeth
How Does Denture Stabilization Work?
Denture stabilization is a dental treatment process where dental implants are surgically inserted into the jawbone for artificial dentures to be attached to in order to stabilize them in the mouth. Conventional dentures sit on top of the gum and therefore are not securely rooted or supported in the mouth. Many patients interested in implant-supported dentures may not have teeth in the jaw, but they do have enough bone in the jaw to support the implant.
Additionally, the dental implants have many added benefits, such as helping prevent bone tissue loss and maintaining the shape and structure of the jaw. Once the implants are placed and the dentures are attached on top, they will be firmly rooted in the mouth, and will not move or shift around like conventional dentures. Patients may either prefer to have dentures that clip in, or a more permanent solution where there is a fixed crown or bridge. These more permanent stabilized dentures can’t be removed at all, while the ones with attachments can.
The denture stabilization process usually occurs in three primary steps: The first step of the treatment is to surgically insert the implants into the jawbone. Once the implants have been installed, the next step includes a several month healing period that is required for the bone to fuse to the implants. The last step is the fitting of the dentures.
Types of Stabilized Dentures
There are two common types of denture stabilizations: ball-retained and bar-retained dentures.
Ball-retained dentures are also sometimes called stud-attachment dentures. For ball-retained dentures, the implant system includes an implant with a metal attachment on the top where the denture clips in. They are called ball-retained dentures because the implant attachment is in the shape of a ball and the denture attachment is designed like a socket. To clip the dentures into place, the ball simply fits into the socket.
Bar-retained dentures is another implant-supported denture design that requires at least two to five implants in the jawbone. A metal bar curves around the jawbone and is attached to all of these implants. To clip the denture into place, the denture goes over the bar, and the attachments on the denture clip into place.
Choosing the Right Tooth Replacement Option For You
When individuals start to battle tooth loss, they may start to think “why replace my missing teeth, it’s a lost cause”. One of the major barriers to replacing missing teeth is the cost of replacement options. Another reason is that it takes a time investment to schedule dental visits and to find the right tooth replacement option. However, without teeth in the mouth, the facial structure will begin to change, aging the face and decreasing the ability to eat and speak well. Additionally, not replacing missing teeth can lead to dental hygiene issues.
Thanks to advances in dental technology, there are many tooth replacement options available to help adults avoid these risks. If you are interested in replacing your missing teeth but have heard all of the downfalls of conventional dentures, you should look into denture stabilization treatment. Having a conversation with a dental provider is a great place to start to find the right replacement option for you.