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Mini Dental Implants and Denture Stabilization

Denture implants are a great solution for patients whose dentures just don't quite stay put.

Also known as mini dental implants, they are slender titanium screws that a dental implant dentist or prosthodontist attaches to your jawbone in a simple surgical procedure. Just 2-4 mini implants attached to your lower jaw can ensure that your denture never wanders again.

Mini implants are considerably smaller than standard tooth implants, so the dental implant surgery is less invasive, takes less time, and heals faster. In addition, denture implants cost less.

Denture patients will often be given a provisional denture to immediately wear over their implants. Once the implants have healed, a permanent denture can be fabricated, or the patient's existing denture can be retrofitted to accommodate the denture implants. The removable denture will snap on to the implants to provide added support, stability and retention.

Many a denture dentist loves being able to offer dental implant therapy. "I have done around 20 cases using mini implants under lower dentures," said one dentist. "I feel this is one of the best things I have done for my patients and my practice."

Agreed another, "In the correct situation and understanding how to use them, they are a wonderful long-term solution."

As with regular dental implant surgery, the dentist will need to take X-rays an possibly bone scans to make sure there is enough bone to support the implants. Since the cost of dental therapy is significant, there's no sense placing implants that are likely to fail.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Conventional Removable Partial Dentures

A partial denture is useful for a person missing some teeth, but who still has a number of natural teeth.

This device also is called a removable prosthesis, and is a means by which artificial replacement teeth are held in the mouth. The prosthesis commonly is kept in place by means of clasps. These are thin finger-like structures, usually made of a special resilient metal alloy or sometimes plastic, that rest upon and wrap around some remaining natural teeth. Clasps keep the prosthesis securely in place, but still allow a person to easily take it out for regular cleaning and proper brushing of remaining natural teeth.

Some Reasons for Having Partial Dentures Made

• Replace missing teeth
• Improve ability to chew more naturally
• Chew food with confidence
• Make it possible to eat certain favorite foods
• Maintain a healthier and socially acceptable mouth
• Aid in the preservation of remaining natural teeth
• Help prevent or treat problems of the TMJ (the jaw joint)
• Often improve speech
• Help develop a more pleasing and confident smile
• Support the face -- often with a more youthful appearance
• Enhance self esteem
• Replace missing teeth in an economical way
• Add an additional tooth to an existing partial denture if a natural tooth is lost
• In most cases, crowning teeth is not necessary to fit a partial denture
• Partial dentures are usually easy to repair if they are broken

Esthetics and the Conventional Partial Denture

Generally, clasp design is reasonably esthetic, and often it is possible for them not to be seen. However, depending upon partial denture design, which is based on mouth conditions, there may be some show of clasps. Often, this is not an appearance problem. However, if avoiding an unacceptable show of clasps would compromise optimal partial denture design, various special attachments sometimes may be employed to do away with conventional clasps. These attachments are more technically complex and often are referred to as precision or semi-precision attachments.

How Long Will a Partial Denture Last?

Accidents happen, and the mouth is constantly changing. Partial dentures may no longer fit properly, can break or bend, or simply wear out. In fact, there is nothing made for the mouth that is permanent. Fractured clasps and so forth often may be repaired.

On average, a partial denture may be expected to last about five years. Depending upon circumstances, certain removable prostheses can last a shorter or longer time.

How Often Should a Partial Denture Be Checked?

It is best to have a partial denture, as well as the rest of the mouth, checked at six-month intervals. If left uncorrected, small problems can develop into major ones, which could cause disease, loss of teeth, or necessitate premature prosthesis replacement.

Partial Dentures Need to Be Relined

The jaw ridge that a partial denture rests upon is constantly changing. It is normal and necessary to regularly modify how a partial denture contacts the ridge. This maintenance correction is called relining, and on average, needs to be performed annually for optimal function. However, this is dependent upon how an individual's mouth changes. A licensed dentist can best advise when a reline is needed, and when a reline will no longer adequately restore proper function.

by Joseph J. Massad, D.D.S.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.