Removable Dentures – How to Overcome the Age Old Problem of Denture Slippage

Dentures are still the most common alternative for people that are missing multiple teeth. Sadly though, for a great number of wearers, the experience of removable dentures isn’t as easy as they may have hoped. We meet a lot of patients who tell us that the main problem they face with their dentures is that they slip and slide around their mouth.This makes it very difficult for them to speak clearly and to eat properly. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here at Chesterfield, we use dental implants to help stabilize dentures and give patients their quality of life back.

So what exactly are implant-retained dentures?

Implant-retained dentures are the next best thing to a full mouth of natural teeth again. They are anchored into the jaw bone by dental implants. These are made from titanium which merges with surrounding bone to provide the structural support needed. So while normal removable dentures are held into place using the natural suction of the gums or by clasps on the remaining teeth, an implant-retained denture is supported instead by the fixture of a dental implant. The denture then has special attachments that snap on or off their implants. Implant-retained dentures are used when patients no longer have any teeth remaining and have an adequate amount of bone to support implants.

Advantages

Implant-retained dentures have many benefits over conventional dentures, these include:

1. Stability – While removable dentures tend to slip and slide out of place, implant-retained dentures are held firmly in position by the dental implant which itself is anchored into the jaw. This means you get stability and security that no amount of adhesives or clasps could ever provide.
2. Improved function – With the dentures being held securely in place, this means that speaking and eating is so much easier, just like using natural teeth. So patients can once again eat whatever they want without a worry.
3. Aesthetics – Implant-retained dentures are designed to look as natural and realistic as possible. Due to the fact they are secured beneath the gum line, they have a more natural looking appearance than removable dentures, which just sit on the gum line.
4. Decreased bone loss – When teeth are extracted, the bone and soft tissues around them begins to shrink because it’s no longer needed. What’s great is that dental implants halt bone loss because they continue to stimulate and regenerate the growth of bone, just as a natural tooth root would. A conventional denture on the other hand can’t stop bone loss.

Implant-retained dentures give our patients their confidence back, and allows them to speak and smile with ease once again. So if you are struggling with dentures that don’t fit well or slide out of place when talking and eating, book in to see Dr Melba Akinwande our denture dentist at Chesterfield today to discuss your options on (314) 469 6429.