Implant Dentures – Carmel, IN
Restore Your Grin and Your Bite
Dentures are fantastic dental restorations that can enhance the function and transform the appearance of your smile after tooth loss, but many patients can be frustrated with the limitations of conventional dental restorations. Thankfully, implant dentures from Springhetti Dentistry can restore much more biting power and last much longer than traditional dentures. Here’s a quick look at how implant dentures work and who they can help from our friendly dental team, but please feel free to contact our practice in Carmel if you’d like to know more.
Why Choose Springhetti Dentistry for Implant Dentures?
- Skilled and Experienced Dental Team
- Enjoy a Gorgeous, Functional, and Complete Smile
- Financing Options Available
What Are Implant Dentures?
Dental implants are small titanium cylinders inserted into the jawbone through a minor surgical procedure rendered completely painless with anesthesia. These devices can be used to support lifelike dental restorations such as dentures so patients can enjoy superior chewing power. Dental implants can last for life if they receive excellent care, and the restorations mounted upon them can last several times longer than conventional tooth replacement appliances. After a brief consultation at our Carmel office, our dentist may recommend:
Fixed/Permanent Implant Dentures
Fixed implant dentures will stay securely in place after they are attached to your implants, which allows them to work and feel like real teeth. These devices typically take four to six implants to be placed, and patients must have sufficiently strong jawbones to receive them. Many people with fixed implant dentures often forget they are wearing restorations at all since they feel so lifelike.
Removable Implant Dentures
Removable implant dentures are designed to be detached from the dental ridges for hygiene purposes, and they can often be placed using only two to five implants. This can make them excellent options for patients who do not have strong enough jawbones to support fixed appliances.
The Implant Denture Process
The staff at Springhetti Dentistry is trained and equipped to complete the entire dental implant process in our office. The process begins with a consultation so we can determine the best way to address your tooth loss, and we may need to clear up oral infections with restorative treatments or reinforce your jawbones with bone grafts before you can qualify for implant dentures. When you are ready to receive implants, we’ll be able to place them at our practice. After you’ve had a few months for your jawbone to integrate with your implants, you’ll come back to our office to have abutment pieces placed on top of them. About two weeks later, we’ll fit you with customized dentures, make any final adjustments, and send you on your way to enjoy your gorgeous new smile.
Am I a Candidate for Implant Dentures?
A suitable candidate for implant dentures will meet criteria like:
- Missing many or all of their teeth
- Being free from oral infections like gum disease and cavities
- Having sufficient jawbone mass to support implants
- Being healthy enough to undergo minor surgery
We can often help patients who aren’t ready to receive dental implants by performing restorative treatments, bone grafts, or sinus lifts so they can qualify for them later.
Benefits of Combining Dentures & Dental Implants
Implant dentures offer a range of incredible benefits like:
- Restoring the appearance and function of the patient’s smile
- Improving the patient’s chewing ability and diet
- Enhancing the patient’s confidence
- Protecting the gums from injury
- Preventing jawbone atrophy
- Easy oral hygiene requirements
- Lasting much longer than traditional dentures if they receive proper care
Implant Dentures FAQs
Can I Detach My Denture from My Dental Implants?
In most cases, an implant denture will be designed to remain fixed upon the titanium pieces supporting it at all times, so you should not be able to remove your appliance without the help of a qualified dentist such as Dr. Springhetti, Oberley, or Brooke. If you have a permanent implant denture, never attempt to remove it on your own, and be sure to contact our office promptly if you find you are able to do so. We’ll be happy to find a way to address the issue at our Carmel office.
However, some types of implant dentures such as snap-on dentures are designed to be detached from the dental implants by the patient for hygiene purposes. If you receive an appliance like this, we’ll be sure to provide you with detailed care and maintenance instructions so you know how to handle and clean your device properly.
How Long Do Dental Implants Last?
Dental implants placed by a qualified dentist can last for several decades or possibly for life if they receive excellent care, and 95% of them are still functioning well ten years after placement. To keep your dental implants in great shape, be sure to maintain them with great habits like:
- Brushing and flossing every day.
- Rinsing with antibacterial mouthwash regularly.
- Visiting our office every six months for routine exams and cleanings.
- Being mindful when chewing to avoid unnecessary strain.
- Refraining from tobacco use and excessive alcohol intake.
- Abstaining from destructive habits like grinding, using your teeth to open packages, and chewing on ice or non-food materials like plastic, glass, wood, metal, and fingernails.
What Can Cause Dental Implants to Fail?
Dental implants are incredibly successful and can last for many years if they receive proper care, but they can fail for reasons like:
- Failed osseointegration: If the dental implant does not form an adequately strong bond with the jawbone after being placed, it may not have the sturdy foundation it needs to function properly. Failed osseointegration usually happens due to the patient not following their post-treatment instructions.
- Peri-implantitis: While dental implants cannot be affected by tooth decay, the gum and jawbone tissues keeping them in place can still be weakened by oral infections. Peri-implantitis is usually the result of poor oral hygiene or bad habits like tobacco use or excessive alcohol consumption.
- Injury: Grinding or otherwise abusing one’s teeth or suffering a fall or a blow to the face can gradually or suddenly break a dental implant loose from the gum tissue. It’s important to wear an appropriate dental protective device when playing sports or if you grind your teeth in your sleep.
While health conditions like pregnancy, diabetes, osteoporosis, cancer, and hemophilia can complicate the implantation process and potentially make failure more likely, they do not necessarily disqualify patients from receiving dental implants. Please be honest and thorough when discussing your medical history during your consultation at our Carmel office so we can plan your treatment accordingly.
