| You may know me as a proponent of zinc-free | | | | complete (otherwise you would risk having your |
| denture adhesives, but what if I told you you could | | | | implants shift). Older adults must have a sufficient |
| do away with denture adhesives altogether? This | | | | amount of bone structure in which to anchor the |
| may sound like fantasy, but I assure you there is a | | | | implants. However, even if you lack the needed bone |
| way, and it is rapidly growing in popularity: implant | | | | structure, there are several options for replacing it so |
| supported dentures. | | | | that implants can be used. Among these techniques |
| What are implant supported dentures? | | | | are bone graft surgery, synthetic bone implants, or |
| If you are not familiar with the growing field of | | | | even bovine (cow) bone implants. This is why it is so |
| implant dentistry, you may not have heard of this | | | | important to consult a dentist who is trained in |
| new technology. Put simply, the dentist places metal | | | | implants; as only he or she is qualified to guide you in |
| implants into the bone structure of the mouth. Then | | | | selecting among these further options to support |
| dentures are either created or retrofitted so that | | | | implants. The upside of this is, if you do have |
| they have holes or indentations corresponding to | | | | implants, they can help anchor your bone and gum |
| where these implants protrude from the jawbone or | | | | tissue, and prevent any further loss. |
| upper palate. The implants then fit, hand-in-glove, into | | | | Are there any other considerations? |
| the indentations in the dentures, and voila! | | | | Recovery time is the other major consideration in |
| Sneeze-proof denture fit! Implants can also greatly | | | | choosing implant supported dentures, and will be |
| improve the security of ill-fitting partial dentures as | | | | another area where your implant-trained dentist can |
| well. | | | | help you make decisions. Some patients are able to |
| This sounds painful... | | | | have the implant surgery and begin wearing their new |
| While virtually all surgery does have some pain | | | | dentures just a few days later, once the swelling has |
| associated with it, this is a relatively minor surgery, | | | | gone down. Other patients will need between two |
| and can be done under local anesthetic in your | | | | and four months of recovery time between their |
| dentist's office. Moreover, be honest with yourself; | | | | implant surgery and the time they begin to wear |
| do your ill-fitting dentures not cause you pain? The | | | | their dentures. This will depend on many factors, |
| resounding response from folks who have chosen | | | | including how much bone and gum tissue you have, |
| implant supported dentures is that they would gladly | | | | how long ago your natural teeth were removed, and |
| accept the short-term pain of recovering from the | | | | whether or not your immune system is |
| implant surgery over the constant, on-going pain of | | | | compromised, which can slow healing. |
| dentures which slip, slide, and abrade the interior of | | | | What does it cost? |
| their mouths day in and day out. Add in the pain you | | | | As you might expect of any surgery, the cost can |
| are likely to suffer from the long-term effects of | | | | be considerable. If you have good dental insurance, |
| ingesting denture adhesive, and the choice quickly | | | | they may cover at least part of the cost for you; |
| becomes clear. | | | | this is another item to be discussed with your dentist. |
| Am I a candidate for implant supported dentures? | | | | Many dentists who offer implant supported dentures |
| Only a dentist trained in implants can tell you for | | | | also offer financing options, in order to help their |
| certain. As you may expect, you will need to be | | | | patients have the best possible quality of life. |
| beyond adolescence, so that your bone growth is | | | | |