No two denturists are the same. If you have been wearing dentures for a while, you know that no two sets of dentures are the same. Finding a quality, experienced denturist can seriously impact the comfort of your dentures. You do not have to deal with loose plates, gums that are rubbed raw, distorted speech, and the inability to eat your favorite foods. If you have any of these problems, there are a few things that you can try before replacing your dentures. Use what I have learned over my 15 years of wearing dentures to find a perfect fit and optimum comfort in your dentures.
finding comfort when wearing dentures
Are Subperiosteal Dental Implants The Best Choice For Weak Jawbones?
Priscilla Hansen
Dental implants are one of the more popular dental replacement options available from a cosmetic dentist. Implants feel similar to natural teeth when chewing due to a sturdy metal root that is implanted and fused into the jawbone. The root placement method requires strong dense jawbone for the proper healing to take place to ensure root security. If you have a weak jawbone, you might think your only option is to receive a bone graft ahead of the implant.
There is a secondary type of dental implant called a subperiosteal implant that does not involve placing a root into the bone. Instead, the subperiosteal implant has a metal base that fits down over the top of the bone ridge and is held into place by the healed up gum tissue.
Is the subperiosteal implant right for you? That is a decision you can only make with your dentist, but here are a couple of pros and cons to get you started.
Pro: Doesn't Require Graft, Shorter Treatment Time
The obvious benefit of a subperiosteal implant is that you would likely not have to go through a bone graft procedure and its associated healing time before the implant process can even begin. Grafting can add significant treatment time to an already long treatment process.
For a standard dental implant, your dentist will place the root and stitch your gums shut, then let you heal until the bone starts to fuse around the bone – a process which can take months. A post is then attached to the root, then the gum tissue has to heal around the post. Finally, your dentist can place the artificial tooth on top of the post. Remember, you will likely have no tooth in the empty spot during this entire treatment process.
A subperiosteal implant can save quite a bit of time off the treatment process even beyond the avoided graft. The subperiosteal plate sits on the bone, the gums are stitched into place over the base, and the artificial tooth is ready to go as soon as the gums heal.
Cons: Less Stable, Still Bone Dependent
The downside of subperiosteal implants is that the lack of bone-supported root means the artificial tooth can feel less natural than a standard implant. And while the subperiosteal implant isn't as bone dependent as the standard type, problems can still occur if there is too much bone degradation or thinness.
A subperiosteal implant is particularly dependent on the upper bone ridge, which is the curved part that supports your teeth. If the ridge is worn away on one side or overly thin, the subperiosteal implant is not going to have a stable base and would slip around as you tried to chew.
If you have severe bone damage in your jaw, you might want to consider going through with the bone graft regardless of whether you choose a subperiosteal or standard implant. If you have questions, consult a cosmetic dentist like Kevin J Owoc.
Share