Guide to Stabilizing Dentures
The information in the Guide to Stabilizing Dentures provides a comprehensive explanation of the consequences of missing teeth, a comparison of dental implants and dentures, and a detailed description of implant procedures. We encourage you to review all of the pages to help you make an informed decision about your treatment options.
Dental Implant Procedures
In cases where the teeth have been missing for an extended period of time, the surgical specialist must determine whether there is sufficient bone for placement of dental implants. Both the quality and quantity of bone where the dental implants will be placed must be evaluated. 3D cone beam images with computer-generated scans are often used to facilitate the diagnosis and treatment planning process, as they provide a more detailed look at the existing teeth, bone, nerves, and tissue with both three-dimensional and cross-sectional views.
Once it has been determined that the patient is a candidate for dental implants, the surgical procedures are straightforward. A special technique is used to shape the bone for the precise placement of dental implants and a small screw is placed on top of each implant. If provisional (temporary) replacement teeth are necessary for esthetic purposes, the patient’s denture can be retrofitted to place over the dental implants.
The dental implants are left undisturbed for several weeks, or a few months, so that the bone can remodel around, or fuse to the dental implants. While the bone is remodeling around the dental implants, the final overdenture is fabricated with special attachments. Once the bone has formed a strong bond with the dental implants, special ball attachments are secured to the dental implants and the new overdenture can be snapped onto the attachments.