all -on-4 dental implants Archives

Will I Need Bone Grafting for an Implant-Supported Denture?

Posted on August 23, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Will I need bone grafting for an implant-supported denture? I’ve worn a denture for nine years and want to anticipate what a dentist might recommend during a consultation. How much bone loss is too much? I probably have some. I know to ask for at least four implants, but I don’t know whether I should mention bone grafting. Thank you. Foster

Foster,

You are wise to have been researching what’s involved in getting an implant overdenture.

Will You Need Bone Grafting for an Implant-Supported Denture?

Diagram of an implant-supported denture hovering above four dental implants in the lower jaw

Consult with a prosthodontist to determine whether you need bone grafting for an implant-supported denture

You may need bone grafting for an overdenture if you lack enough quality bone to support dental implants. According to an article by the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the jawbone can shrink up to 50 percent in the first six months after tooth loss.

A prosthodontist will take a 3D CT scan to measure your bone volume and determine if you need a bone graft to support the dental implants. A May 2021 article in the medical publication Molecules states describes dental bone grafting in these terms:

The only solution to reverse dental bone loss
A well-accepted procedure
Required in one in every four dental implants

Some implant overdenture options, such as All-on-4 or All-on-6 dental implants, minimize the need for bone grafting. However, a dentist must verify your eligibility for this technique.

You Qualify for Dental Implants Bone Grafting?

You probably qualify for dental implant bone grafting if the following is true:

Maintain good oral health
Healthy enough for oral surgery and dental procedures
Non-smoker

After bone grafting, you can expect four to twelve months of healing, depending on your health, graft material and type, the extent of grafting needed, and your healing rate.

Schedule a consultation with at least two prosthodontists, specialists with two years of post-graduate training in tooth restoration and dental implant placement. During the consultations, you can ask questions about implant overdentures and learn whether you need bone grafting. Scheduling multiple consultations allows you to compare your options and costs and decide which provider you prefer.

When you are ready for an implant-supported denture, your prosthodontist will create a customized treatment plan, which may include a bone graft procedure.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

Will Denture Repair Improve My Loose Denture?

Posted on August 17, 2023 by AllSmiles.

Will denture repair improve my loose denture? I’ve had my denture for eight years, and it is loose. After several visits from my dentist, I wonder if denture repair will correct it or if it’s already time for a new denture. Can denture repair help? Thank you. Sterling from Silver Springs, MD

Sterling,

If your denture is eight years old and continues to be loose despite relines, you probably need a new denture.

Will Denture Repair Correct a Loose Denture?

Denture repair may correct a loose denture if there is damage to the denture base. However, if the denture base is worn or old, a dentist must take impressions of your mouth to create a new custom denture. The American College of Prosthodontists confirms that despite relining and denture adhesives, some dentures are in a condition that can only be resolved by getting a new denture.

Why Is Your Denture Loose?

A denture may be loose for these reasons:

Inadequate denture impressions – If a dentist takes inaccurate impressions of your mouth, a new denture will not fit as well as possible.
Damage or wear – A denture may wear or get damaged over time, affecting how it fits. Denture repair may help a damaged denture fit better. However, a worn denture requires replacement.
Jawbone shrinkage – Your jawbone gradually shrinks when all your teeth are missing. Bone shrinkage changes how your denture fits and may cause it to float.

Getting a New Denture That Fits Well

You can get a new denture that fits well if a dentist takes a two-step impression. Some dentists use a three-step impression or additional methods for optimal denture fit.

Preliminary impression – A skilled cosmetic dentist will take an initial impression of your mouth to make a model of your jaw.
Denture tray – A dentist can use the preliminary impression to make a model of your jaw, which helps create a custom tray. Some dentists use a moldable stock tray.
Second impression – Using a heavier impression material, the dentist takes a second impression of your mouth to register denture borders.
Filling in the details – A lighter impression material fills in the details of your mouth-s soft tissue for a custom fit.

Lower denture supported by dental implants, for information on denture repair and replacing loose dentures with same-day, Teeth-in-a-Day dentures

Minimize denture repairs and relining with same-day dentures or Teeth-in-a-Day.

The above steps ensure that a removable denture has an optimal fit. It can help minimize the need for denture relining. Still, as your jawbone continues to shrink, your denture will loosen. Many patients consider supporting their dentures with dental implants, known as implant overdentures, All-on-4 dental implants, Teeth-in-a-Day, or same-day dentures.

How Do Implant Dentures Work?

Implant dentures keep your replacement teeth stable because a dentist places dental implants, or replacement tooth roots, in your jawbone.

Anchor denture teeth – After the bone and implants fuse, your denture will have solid support.
Prevent jawbone shrinkage – You won’t have to worry about loose dentures. Also, dental implants stimulate the jawbone and prevent further shrinkage. When you get implant-supported dentures, you can get same-day dentures while your mouth heals.
Minimize denture repairs – You will handle your dentures less often when dental implants support them, decreasing the risks of damage and denture repair.

We recommend consulting with a prosthodontist to identify why your dentures are loose and learn about treatment options for long-term success with same-day dentures or Teeth-in-a-Day.

San Antonio dentists Dr. Gilberto Tostado and Dr. Karina Acuña sponsor this post.

One-Sized Fits All Does Not Work in Dentistry

Posted on April 29, 2021 by Annmarie Worthington.

I saw an advertisement for Clear Choice dental centers. they advertised something called teeth in a day. That appealed to me so I went. However, I didn’t feel like I needed all my teeth extracted. Most of my upper teeth are okay. They may need some cosmetic work but that is about it. Yet, Clear Choice was recommending I remove all of my teeth top and bottom. Is this the only way to get the same day teeth?

Charles

Dear Charles,

Teeth-in-a-Day

I am glad you wrote. You do not have to go to Clear Choice to get the procedure you want. Nor, would you have to compromise on what procedures you want. There are private practices that do the teeth-in-a-day procedure.

While Clear Choice does have some good dentists that work for them, they are first and foremost a corporate practice, which means they are more about the bottom line than an individual patient. They tend to have high sales tactics and a one-size-fits-all approach to dental care.

It is very likely that they just don’t know how to do the cosmetic work you were wanting. Rather than lose the business, they suggest the procedure they do for almost everyone. Good for their bottom line, but not in your best interest.

Even when you go to a private dentist, when it comes to such a significant procedure like dental implants, I think it is important you get a second opinion before moving forward.

If your teeth are healthy, why in the world would you want to extract them? The most important thing you can do is save your natural teeth.

Look for a dentist who does the teeth in a day procedure who also offers cosmetic procedures. Just be certain that you check out their smile gallery to be certain you like the results of their cosmetic work.

This blog is brought to you by San Antonio Dentist Dr. Tostado.