Denture Stabilization
Complete tooth loss has long been treated with the use of full set of removable dentures. However, dentures sometimes have insufficient hold, which can lead to discomfort in some patients. These problems of stabilization can happen when the shape of the jaw has been compromised by bone loss or when salivation is insufficient, as the saliva under the prosthesis helps hold the denture in place. Traditional, removable dentures rely on the gums and jawbone, both of which tend to thin and recede over time. This is very common in older people. When this happens, the denture no longer fits the gum and moves, which causes significant discomfort when you chew food or talk. This deterioration is particularly visible for prostheses of the lower jaw.
Problems with dentures are more common in the lower jaw. The lower denture must leave sufficient space for the tongue, which further reduces the surface that the denture can use to stay in contact with the gum tissue. This small contact surface reduces the resistance of the denture and can make chewing and speech difficult for you.
Up until a few years ago, there was very little your dentist could do about this. However, advancements in Denture Stabilization are providing solutions for people with full dentures. Denture Stabilization provides a comforting solution by offering a means of stabilizing the removable dentures.
This procedure is where the complete set of dentures is placed on implants that are fixed to your jawbone. This is a solution which makes it possible to stabilize a totally removable prosthesis (denture) by fixing it on implants provided for this purpose. This is a particularly interesting choice for patients who must wear a complete denture but who cannot benefit from a fixed denture on several separate implant posts for anatomical or health reasons (for example, if they have insufficient bone volume for multiple implants).
However, if the prosthesis is fixed on implants, it does not move and provides comfort and reliability. People with dentures will thus find great comfort without needing to add dental glues and thus will be able to enjoy foods that were previously prohibited.
Denture Stabilization is a real revolution for full dentures which are usually very difficult to stabilize and can be disabling for the people who wear them. They are particularly suitable for lower dentures which do not hold without dental glue.
How does Denture Stabilization work?
A new denture attachment system is affixed onto a judiciously placed implant in your mouth that functions like a press stud. These implant studs are fixed to your jawbone in a surgical procedure in your dentist’s office. Once the stud (implant) is attached, it can take 3-4 months for the implant to heal. Once healed, it has become a permanent fixture to your jaw.
It takes about 2 implants to stabilize a prosthesis for the bottom and about 4-6 implants for the top of your mouth. The full set of dentures is then fixed to the stud implants by the dentist. Once placed, it will require a dentist to remove them; they are fixed to the studs.
There are two different types of denture stabilizations: ball-retained and bar-retained dentures. Both solutions are implanted into the jawbone but differ in amount and type of implants. Ball-retained dentures are also known as stud-attachment dentures. For these, two to three implants in the jawbone have attachments on them that are used to fit onto the attachments on the dentures. The implant attachments are usually in the shape of a ball while the denture attachments are more like sockets. Thus, the denture is attached in a ball-and-socket way.
Bar-retained dentures require at least two to five implants in your jawbone. Then, a metal bar is fitted around your jawbone and attached to all of the implants. The denture and/or the bar have attachments on them to help clip them all together.
The semi-permanence of denture stabilization has many advantages to traditional removable dentures.
Studies have shown that this concept increases the quality of life by improving the chewing and speech capabilities in patients. It also has been shown to lead to better health through making it easier for people to consume healthy foods, such as fruits and vegetables.
Denture stabilization is also a more economical system than a complete set of dental implants, because it can be achieved with just a few dental implants, rather than one for each missing tooth. It allows total stabilization of the top and bottom dentures. With the denture no longer moving, it is possible to speak with great comfort. Additionally, you will no longer need glue under the your dentures, which means easy maintenance. Care for stabilized dentures is the same as if you had real teeth: simple brushing and flossing. It can be the ideal solution for people looking for a simple solution and an alternative to traditional dental implants.
Who is a candidate for Denture Stabilization?
Before considering having the dental implants necessary for Denture Stabilization, a complete exam and x-rays of your teeth and jaws should be done. This allows the dentist to assess your condition and make sure that your jaws will be able to receive the implants needed to stabilize your dentures.
During the implantology consultation, the dentist ensures that the necessary conditions are met:
- General health: You must be in good general health before surgery to place implants can be performed. This allows your body to cope well with the procedure and to heal well after it. Conditions like uncontrolled diabetes and heart disease can pose a risk when having such surgery. It is therefore important that your dentist is aware of the state of your general health.
- Oral condition: Your gums must be in healthy condition for the implants to be placed. Without it, the intervention may fail. During the implantology consultation, the dentist assesses your gums to make sure they are healthy.
- Jawbone density: Since dental implants that are required for denture stabilization are inserted directly into the jawbone, the jawbone must be thick and dense enough for an implant to anchor securely. Unfortunately, when you lose a tooth and delay replacing it, the bone volume gradually decreases as bone growth is no longer stimulated by the presence of tooth roots. If this is your case, your dentist will be able to offer you an intervention before the installation of the implants, which will aim to restore sufficient volume to the bone of your jaw: this is the bone graft or the sinus elevation.
- Jaw growth: Normally, only people with completed jaw growth can receive dental implants. Adolescents and some young adults, for this reason, cannot receive implants.
What are the advantages of this process?
This is an economical system that can be achieved with just a few dental implants. It allows a total stabilization of the dentures. It allows you to eat all the food again without any discomfort and to speak with greater ease. This could be the ideal solution for older people looking for an alternative to removable dentures.