Implant Dentures – Weyauwega, WI
A Longer-Lasting, Permanent Smile
Dr. William Twohig wants you to feel good about your smile. When missing teeth cause you to feel embarrassed or ashamed of your appearance, he and his team can offer an alternative to traditional prosthetics – implant dentures in Weyauwega! Regular dentures may give you the look of a fully restored smile, but their instability and frequent need for adjustments and replacements can leave you wanting more from your smile. With implant dentures, he can safely and effectively restore your smile in its entirety using ceramic implants and a fully customizable denture that creates a seamless aesthetic. To learn more about this unique tooth replacement option, contact our office today!
What Are Implant Dentures?
Implant dentures are surgically placed restorations that offer greater stability and functionality than traditional dentures. Using your jawbone as a solid foundation, these ceramic posts are not only a safer alternative than regular titanium, but they fuse to your bone and surrounding tissue to create a base for your new, customized denture that snaps into place.
With implant dentures, you will notice a dramatic, positive difference in the way you smile, eat, chew, and even talk.
During your initial consultation with your implant dentist in Weyauwega, you can expect to choose from two types of dentures:
Fixed/Permanent Implant Dentures
Referred to as a hybrid prosthesis, this prosthetic is secured into place and cannot be removed by anyone other than a skilled professional. Requiring ample jawbone density and between 4-8 dental implants, you can expect to easily maintain your new smile.
Removable Implant Dentures
Also known as a “Snap-On denture,” this removable prosthetic only requires between 2 and 5 dental implants in Weyauwega. As a result, you may not need as much jawbone density, as you’ll be able to easily remove your denture when it’s time to clean it.
The Implant Denture Process
Receiving dental implants does take time, so you’ll need to have patience and trust the process. There are several steps that must occur to ensure optimal success. These include:
- Implant Consultation: During this visit, Dr. Twohig will evaluate your smile, check your bone density, recommend any pre-treatments (i.e., bone grafting, periodontal therapy) if necessary, and take impressions for lab technicians to use when creating your custom denture.
- Surgical Placement: Once you’ve received the green light for surgery, you will receive local anesthesia to keep you relaxed throughout the procedure. During the appointment, several incisions will be made in your gums where the ceramic implants will be put into place. For an entire arch, it typically requires anywhere between 4 and 8 implants.
- Osseointegration: It will be necessary for you to return home and spend the next 3-6 months recovering. The implants must fuse with the bone and surrounding tissue in a process known as osseointegration. Once this is accomplished, you will return to our office for the last step of the implant placement process.
- Denture Placement: When you arrive to have your customized denture put into place, Dr. Twohig will make sure all implants look fully healed before snapping the prosthetic into place. It will blend in seamlessly with the rest of your smile, looking and feeling like natural teeth.
Am I a Candidate for Implant Dentures?
When scheduling a consultation with Dr. Twohig, he will examine your oral cavity and facial structure to determine if you are a qualified candidate for treatment. You’ll be pleased to learn that most adults with tooth loss are eligible to receive implant dentures; however, it may require that you undergo preliminary treatments first.
It is necessary that you have good general oral health and a strong jawbone to receive implant dentures. Why? Because your jawbone is what is needed to hold up your implants and prevent facial collapse.
When missing teeth are not treated in a timely manner, the bone can begin to weaken over time. As a result, patients inquiring about dental implants may need to undergo a bone graft or sinus lift to create a stronger structure. Because it can take several months for patients to recover from this type of oral surgery, receiving implant dentures must be postponed until the bone is sufficient enough for placement.
Benefits of Combining Dentures & Dental Implants
Combining dentures and dental implants leads to many great benefits, some of which include:
- Greater stability and functionality when eating, chewing, and speaking
- Improved oral health because of the continued stimulation to the jawbone
- Fewer food restrictions
- No chance of decay
- Easy to clean and maintain
- A longer-lasting restoration that can remain in place for a lifetime with proper care and maintenance
- Enhanced appearance and a boost in confidence
Implant Dentures FAQs
Traditional dentures are no longer the only viable solution to complete tooth replacement. When living with an entire arch or mouth of missing teeth, there is another solution Dr. Twohig offers – implant dentures in Weyauwega. Although viewed as the “gold standard” among all restorative solutions, they do come with many questions among patients who are interested in permanent prosthetics. Below, Dr. Twohig has compiled some frequently asked questions about implant dentures for you to review. Please contact us with any additional concerns.
How many implants will I need?
The answer to this question is dependent upon your jawbone density and how stable Dr. Twohig believes it will be in supporting your denture. It is not uncommon for most patients receiving implant dentures to have between four and even up to eight dental implants surgically implanted. When meeting with your dentist for your initial consultation, you will learn how many you can expect to receive.
Are the dentures fixed or removable?
Most patients who choose implant dentures prefer to have a fixed prosthetic. The reason is that they are tired of the hassle that comes with traditional dentures (i.e., removal for cleaning, changes in fit and shape, etc.). Although there are options for removable dentures, a fixed one cannot be removed by anyone other than a skilled dental professional. Also, you will not need to remove your teeth to clean them at night.
Will I need a bone graft?
Again, this is dependent upon the state of your jawbone health when meeting with Dr. Twohig. There is a possibility that you may require a bone graft or even a sinus lift if you lack the necessary density to support your dental implants. The process is easy to perform, but it does require further recovery at home before moving forward with having dental implants put into place. You must be committed to the process, or you’ll need to consider another alternative.
Is it common for an implant denture to fail?
No, it’s not common for any type of dental implant to fail. In fact, it’s very rare because of the high success rate of these prosthetics, which is typically around 95%. If an implant denture were to fail, it would most likely occur within the first month after surgery. Smoking, poor oral hygiene, improper implant placement, and failed osseointegration are all potential factors that can cause dental implants to fail.
How long can I expect my implant denture to last?
As long as you are committed to taking proper care of your implant dentures, you can expect them to last at least 30 years. There are cases in which patients enjoyed their newer, more permanent smiles for the remainder of their lives! This makes it easy to justify the investment people make in these prosthetics because they are much more cost-effective in the long run!