DENTAL IMPLANTS F-A-Q
You’ve got questions, Dr. Harrell has answers.
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Four common varieties of dental implants are installed. 1) A Single Dental Implant is used to replace one tooth. It is placed directly into the open space in the teeth. 2) An Implant Bridge replaces multiple teeth. The bridge is anchored by implants on either side of the gap and the attached crowns replace the teeth in between. 3) The All-on-4 method is used when all teeth are missing. As the name implies, four implants in the jaw support a full arch of prosthetic teeth. 4) In the final usage, implants serve as attachment points for a standard denture to increase stability and performance.
- To start, the All-on-4 is fixed in the mouth and can only be removed by the dentist. This means that cleaning the All-on-4 is just like typical tooth care, with daily brushing and flossing.
- Unlike dentures, the All-on-4 is nearly equal to the strength of your natural bite so you can eat all the foods you love without discomfort or concern that you may break your appliance.
- The stability of the All-on-4 means there’s no slipping or shifting so you have complete confidence in social situations.
- The All-on-4 is supported by your jawbone rather than your gums so there’s no irritation, inflammation or sores in the mouth.
- Because the All-on-4 is implanted into the jawbone, it keeps the bone stimulated and prevents deterioration. The fit of dentures has to be readjusted periodically specifically due to bone loss.
- Patients with the All-on-4 save the money that would otherwise be spent on denture-related products, such as adhesives, cleansers and soaking liquids.
- The All-on-4 is slimmer than the traditional denture so it looks more natural in the mouth. It also doesn’t cover the hard palate so the gag reflex isn’t triggered and the ability to taste isn’t impeded, both of which can occur with dentures.
The major complaint of denture wearers is that their dentures feel loose and unstable. This issue is easily corrected by using implants as attachment points to hold the dentures securely in place. The patient’s dentures remain removable (as opposed to an All-on-4, which is fixed) and are simply snapped on and off as needed. In most cases the patient’s current dentures can be used with only slight modifications. Denture stabilization with implants improves the experience of wearing dentures in every way.
If you have other questions about dental implants or Harrell Dental Implant Center, don’t hesitate to contact us. You can reach us by phone at (704) 206-1330, or use the contact button below to submit your questions via contact form.