Did you know that losing your teeth later in life isn’t actually a result of aging? While total tooth loss is much more prevalent the older you get, it’s not a result of the natural aging process! The most common result of tooth loss among older adults is periodontal disease—or gum disease. As you age, you may be less likely to maintain proper dental hygiene consistently, which puts your smile at risk. If your teeth’s enamel thins and your gums recede, they become more susceptible to infection and decay. If left untreated, gum disease will eventually cause your teeth to fall out, exacerbating the infection. Traditional dentures are a common tooth replacement, but they often lack the stability our natural teeth provide. Thankfully, Dr. Zirakian offers a more stable denture option using dental implants!
The Drawback of Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures are one of the most common methods for tooth replacement, likely due to their affordable price. Unfortunately, they come with a drawback that makes them less than ideal for replacing teeth.
Traditional dentures often lack stability, slipping against your gums and making it more difficult to chew effectively. This instability occurs because of bone resorption, which happens as your jawbone loses mass and volume due to tooth loss. When you lose a tooth, you lose the entire structure, including the crown (the visible part) and the root (the part embedded into your jawbone). The tooth root of your natural teeth stimulates your jawbone when you chew or bite, which is crucial for maintaining bone health and density. However, without stimulation, your jawbone will begin to shrink, becoming an unstable foundation,
Because your jawbone shrinks while your denture stays the same, it no longer perfectly fits into the contours of your mouth! This causes great instability, leading to difficulty chewing and speaking and painful denture sores.
A More Secure Option: The Implant Denture
Fortunately, Dr. Zirakian of East Longmeadow Family Dental Center offers dental implants to secure your smile! Instead of relying on your lower jawbone or suction to the roof of your mouth for stability, these dentures rely on dental implants!
Dental implants are titanium posts Dr. Zirakian places into the jawbone to secure restorations like dentures as a solution for total tooth loss. East Longmeadow Family Dental Center offers two kinds of dental implants.
Traditional dental implants are around 5 millimeters in width and require a surgical procedure to place. To place these implants, Dr. Zirakian must create an incision to reach the bone. Using a series of increasingly large drills, he will make a hole in your jawbone about 5 millimeters in diameter. Then, Dr. Zirakian will place the implant body, stitch your gums back up, and send you on your way. After your gums heal and your implant has time to secure in your jawbone, he will reopen your gums to place the abutment. In around 4-5 months, your traditional dental implant will be stable enough to support your dentures. While this is an incredibly stable solution, it is a long, expensive, and invasive process.
Mini dental implants, in contrast, are less than 3 millimeters and consist of only one piece. To place these implants, Dr. Zirakian uses a minimally invasive technique that promotes faster healing and preserves your gum and bone tissue! Instead of creating an incision, he makes a small pilot hole through the gums and into your jawbone. After carefully screwing the mini implant into place, it instantly becomes remarkably stable. In just one appointment, Dr. Zirakian can place your mini implant and a temporary restoration on top. With mini dental implants, you can stabilize your smile quickly, effectively, and affordably!
An Implant Denture Option Guide
East Longmeadow Family Dental Center provides three great denture options to stabilize your smile with mini implants.
- Snap-in dentures: This restoration is the most like traditional dentures, with a pink base. However, snap-in dentures use mini implants to stay secure in your mouth instead of relying on your jawbone or suction. These dentures are removable, as you can “snap” them on and off 4-8 mini implants for easy maintenance. Sometimes, we can even convert your traditional denture into a snap-on denture if it is suitable!
- Semi-permanent roundhouse bridge: While technically bridges, semi-permanent roundhouse bridges are in the denture family because they replace all your teeth! With no need for a base, these dentures look incredibly natural in your mouth! They are “semi-permanent,” as only Dr. Zirakian takes them out for routine cleanings. Otherwise, they stay secure in your mouth on 6-10 mini implants!
- Permanent roundhouse bridge: This denture is the most stable in your mouth, as Dr. Zirakian cements it in place on 10-12 mini implants! Permanent roundhouse bridges never come out of your mouth, allowing them to act similarly to your natural teeth. Because they lack the pink base and provide incredible chewing power, these dentures provide a seamless and powerful smile. If you want a natural-looking and beautiful smile that never comes out, a permanent roundhouse is the denture option for you!
Stabilize Your Smile With Implant Dentures!
Although tooth loss isn’t natural in older adults, it is all too common. However, replacing these missing teeth as soon as possible is incredibly important to prevent bone resorption! While traditional dental implants secure your smile, mini dental implants provide incredible benefits, making them the ideal tooth replacement option. If you are considering which denture option to choose, contact Dr. Zirakian for guidance.
Book a free consultation at East Longmeadow Family Dental Center to learn more about your mini dental implant denture options!
