If you have many failing and missing teeth or wear dentures, you are most likely experiencing situations every day that leave you feeling uncomfortable or embarrassed. Today, with the option of dental implants, you can put all these limitations and discomforts in the past for good! Dental implants make it possible to live a healthy, confident life with solutions ranging from removable dentures and implant supported dentures in Bloomington, MD to permanently fixed full mouth dental implants. Your options for replacing missing teeth are numerous, each with its own advantages, drawbacks, and costs. Knowing your goals for treatment and what to expect can help you determine which solution is best for you. At Normandale Dental, our implant dentist provides all these dental implant treatments to restore your smile, health, and quality of life!
In general, you have two options for replacing your teeth: fixed and removable. You’re aware of dentures, which is the bottom tier of tooth replacement. These artificial teeth are set on an acrylic base that fits over your gums. They return only 20% of natural function and will eventually become loose and ill-fitting as your jaw changes shape. A functional upgrade, implant supported dentures in Bloomington, MD are stabilized by two or more dental implants to restore 60% of dental function. They still consist of a removable acrylic denture and may crack or fracture over time.
Our implant dentist has been providing dental implant treatment for many years. Utilizing state-of-the-art technology and implant systems, we consistently provide cutting-edge surgery with excellent long-term outcomes. With our personalized treatments, we can deliver a solution that precisely fits your smile goals, oral health needs, and even your financial budget. Our treatment process is straightforward and efficient. You’ll first complete a personalized consultation and evaluation with our implant dentist in Bloomington, MD. Next, if necessary, you’ll undergo preparatory treatments like tooth extraction, bone grafting, or gum disease therapy to establish proper oral health and a strong foundation for new teeth. We complete your dental implant surgery right in our office while you’re comfortably under sedation. This surgery is precise with help from guided technology and will be completed in just a few hours. In many cases, we can provide new temporary teeth or modify your existing denture, so you’ll have functional teeth as you heal. When this recovery phase is complete, your final set of teeth will be precision-crafted to meet your exact specifications along with our clinical recommendations to optimize long-term function and aesthetics. Once this restoration is attached to the implants, you can experience better function, greater confidence, and an improved quality of life—for life!
If you are missing most or all of your teeth, it’s important to replace them as soon as possible- not just for your oral health, but also your overall health. Missing teeth can cause a variety of problems, including:
Difficulty chewing/swallowing, leading to nutritional deficiencies
Altered bite due to shifting teeth
Jawbone deterioration/loss
Low self-esteem
Weak jaw muscles
Increased risk of additional dental problems
At Normandale Dental, one of the tooth replacement options we offer is implant-supported dentures. Dr. Avi Matha offers an array of dental care from general dentistry to full-mouth reconstruction. He believes that a visit to the dentist should be a positive experience and therefore offers patients a spa-like atmosphere with warm, scented towels, pillows/blankets, and more.
Implant-supported dentures, also commonly referred to as overdentures, are a permanent tooth replacement option. This is most appropriate for patients who are missing all of their teeth in one or both arches.
Typically, 4 to 8 implants will be placed in the jawbone. Once the implants heal, the dentures will be attached. They will stay in place, allowing you to eat foods that you cannot eat with traditional dentures.
Implant-supported dentures are often referred to as snap-on or snap-in dentures. Since the dentures attach to dental implants, patients need adequate jawbone density. In some cases, bone graft surgery can be done to improve bone density.
The condition of a patient’s jawbone and the type of implant will determine how the surgery is performed. Typically, several procedures will need to be performed and the process will take several months to a year or more.
Though this sounds intensive, the benefits provided by implant-supported dentures are worth it. The process for getting implant-supported dentures looks like this:
The first step in the process is to schedule a consultation with Dr. Matha and the team at Normandale Dental. At this time, we will:
Review medical/dental history
Take x-rays
Create impressions
Order a CT scan to determine bone density
In addition, Dr. Matha will do a comprehensive dental exam. At this time, you are encouraged to ask any questions and bring up any concerns you have. If you have dental anxiety, let us know and we will explain our sedation options.
If necessary, we will provide you with a temporary denture to wear until we can place your implant-supported denture. This will help to determine the best placement for the implants and can be used as a backup if something happens to your implant-supported dentures.
It’s important to note that it may take up to a month to create the temporary denture.
The next step is to place the implants. Local or general anesthesia will be provided and once it takes effect, an incision will be made in the gum and a hole drilled in the jawbone where the implant will be placed. The implant will be inserted into the hole and the gum stitched closed.
As you heal, it’s critical that you avoid putting pressure on the implants. The temporary dentures will direct pressure to other areas of the gums. Depending on where the implants are, you may need to wait 3 to 6 months for osseointegration to occur.
The next step is to place the healing caps. An x-ray will be done to determine if the bone has fused with the implant. If osseointegration has occurred, Dr. Matha will administer anesthesia and make an incision to expose the implants. A healing cap will be placed on top of each implant, which will guide the gum tissue to heal around it. You will need to wait for up to 14 days for healing before abutments can be placed.
An impression will be made of your gums once the abutments are in place. This will be sent to the lab to create your dentures.
At this point, a metal bar will be placed on the abutments and Dr. Matha will check to see if the denture framework fits properly.
The teeth will be placed on the framework in was before the denture is made and secured to the bar or ball attachments. The bar or ball attachments will be secured, and the denture will be clipped onto the attachments.
Your implant-supported denture is stable but may still move when chewing. After the denture is inserted, Dr. Matha will check your gums and bite.
The American Dental Association advises that caring for implant-supported dentures is much like caring for your natural teeth. You should:
Brush twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush and non-abrasive cleaner
Rinse before brushing to remove loose food/debris
Clean mouth thoroughly, including tongue, gums, cheeks, and roof of mouth to reduce bad breath and risk of irritation
Implant-supported dentures offer several benefits over traditional dentures, including:
The primary benefit of implant-supported dentures is stability. Traditional dentures slip and slide around in your mouth, but implant-supported dentures are held securely by the implants. Also, they are permanent and can only be removed during dental exams and cleanings.
A denture adhesive is required to hold traditional dentures in place. These can be messy and frustrating. There is the additional work of having to scrub the adhesive off every night. Plus, this is an extra expense that you won’t have with implant-supported dentures.
When you are missing teeth, the jawbone begins to deteriorate due to a lack of stimulation. Since implant-supported dentures utilize dental implants, the shape and strength of the jaw are maintained.
Missing teeth can cause a lot of complications and can greatly hamper your overall quality of life. By replacing missing teeth with a solution like implant-supported dentures, patients can once again smile, laugh, eat, and speak confidently.
Implant-supported dentures are not the best option for everyone. If the following apply to you, consult with Dr. Matha and the team about getting implant-supported dentures so that you can get relief from not having teeth. You can once again smile with confidence and enjoy your favorite foods.
One of the primary differences between conventional dentures and implant-supported dentures is that you need adequate jawbone density for the latter. The implant is inserted into your jawbone and over the next several months, the bone will fuse to the screw. If you do not have a strong, dense jawbone, implant-supported dentures may not be for you.
Though traditional dentures are an effective solution, they do have some limitations. One of the major complaints is that they slip/slide around in the mouth. Implant-supported dentures, on the other hand, are secured in place with dental implants- so they can’t move around.
Traditional dentures are made to fit your mouth but are removable. Implant-retained dentures are held in place by dental implants but are also removable. While this does increase the stability of your dentures, they are still not a permanent solution. However, implant-supported dentures are held in place by dental implants and can only be removed by the dentist during your regular exams and cleanings.
Many patients start out with traditional dentures because this is the most affordable option for tooth replacement. The problem is, that since they sit directly on the gums, patients often experience sores. Since implant-supported dentures sit on the implants instead of the gums, sores are not typically a problem.
The cost of implant-supported dentures depends on several factors:
Quality of denture
Number of implants required
Type of implants
Additional preparatory procedures required
Traditional implants: $1,600 to $2,200 each
Mini implants: $500 to $1,500 each
Additional procedures include bone grafting, sedation, gum disease treatment, and more.
Therefore, on average, you can expect to spend between $6,000 and $8,000 per arch for implant-supported dentures.
Some dental insurance plans will cover a portion of the cost, if not the full cost. Our friendly office staff will work with your insurance company to determine coverage. In addition to accepting a variety of dental insurances, we also accept third-party financing through GreenSky, CareCredit, and Proceed Finance.
Our dental implant solutions in Bloomington, MD provide permanent improvements in your health, function, and confidence. We consider them to be a lifelong investment in your quality of life. Even if you don’t have dental insurance, don’t assume this life-changing solution is out of your reach! We’ve partnered with select dental financing companies to help you afford treatment, no matter your financial situation. Our financial coordinator can assist you in applying for dental financing and help you secure a personalized payment plan that fits your budget. You’ll find that the process is simple and fast. Many of our patients also receive instant approval, and sometimes without a credit check! Don’t miss out on a new life with dental implants because you’re concerned about the cost! We’re here to ensure all our patients can afford dental implants, and we welcome you to schedule your consultation or second opinion to learn more.
If you are missing most or all of your teeth and would like to explore whether or not implant-supported dentures will work for you, schedule your consultation today . Dr. Matha and the team would love to meet with you and help you get your smile and confidence back.
We are not like your average dental clinic. We offer a variety of amenities to help you relax and to make your visit a positive one. We are located at 5300 Hyland Greens Drive, Suite 100 in Bloomington, Minnesota. Our office hours are Monday through Thursday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
No, the process of getting implant-supported dentures is not painful. Patients may experience some minor discomfort and swelling for the first few days. If you have significant pain or the pain does not begin to subside within a few days, contact the office and let us know. We will get you in so that we can see what is causing the pain. If appropriate, Dr. Matha can prescribe pain medication to help.
During the procedure, you’ll be given a local anesthetic to numb the area. If you have dental anxiety, we do offer sedation options as well. We want your experience with our clinic to be a pleasant one.
Dental implants are designed to last a lifetime once osseointegration has occurred. The dentures are made from strong, long-lasting porcelain so they should last for 30+ years. If the screws need to be relined or a tooth is cracked, it’s easy to fix it.
Thanks to advancements in dental technology, implant-supported dentures have a high rate of success. With proper care, dental implants have a 95% success rate. This, combined with their life expectancy, make implant-supported dentures a great option for replacing your missing teeth.
