Types of Dental Implants
Beverly, MA
Many people have heard horror stories regarding traditional dentures. They slip, do not remain in place, and make it hard to eat or speak. Patients always have to carry around bottles of adhesive to reapply during the day to ensure they stay in place. All of that can be forgotten with implant supported dentures. Called an overdenture, these are permanent denture appliances which are anchored in place by dental implants. We are able to offer this procedure to our patients at ourThomas P. Rafferty, DDS office. Come see us today so we can discuss the placement of dental implants and how they can be used to support your dentures.
Different Types of Implants
There are different kinds of implants, but which one is best for you will have to be determined during an evaluation and assessment appointment. This can be done in less than 15 minutes and will give you a better understanding of what the procedure entails.
The bar-retained denture is one specific type of implant-supported denture solution that is available. It uses a bar of metal that is linked to the implant. Metallic clips can be used to secure the denture to the permanent implant, and it will never slip.
A ball retained denture is another type that uses small sockets or balls which can be connected to the implant. This is also a viable solution for your implant-supported denture needs.
Getting Started
Patients need to understand that implant-supported dentures will take more than a single appointment to complete. There must be a commitment when going through this process. While this may be daunting for some patients, the finished procedure is second to none with regard to providing an artificial tooth solution. We do offer a temporary set of dentures while waiting for the implants to heal.
What is Involved?
Most patients require just a local anesthetic to become comfortable and desensitized to the procedure. A tiny incision is made at the gum line, so the jawbone becomes visible. This allows us to use a drill to secure the implant into the bone at the incision point. We close the incision and allow it to heal before moving onto the next step.
By using x-rays, we are able to check the healing process and make sure it is completely healed by fusing it to the bone. After this has occurred, we expose the implant so a cap can be affixed to it. This remains in place for a few weeks before the placement of the crown.
The Final Placement
The dentures are computer designed and manufactured so they will fit the patient’s mouth perfectly. Once made, they are secured to the dental implant support structure. We can make any minor adjustments necessary and once in place, patients can brush and floss them like normal, healthy teeth.
If you are concerned about tooth loss and looking for a potential option, implant-supported dentures come highly recommended. Please come see us at Thomas P. Rafferty, DDS for more information. You can also call us today at (978) 720-9009 to get the details or to schedule your initial appointment with us. Reach out today.
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