Everyone wants to keep their natural set of teeth for long as possible. However, Australians are not taking care of their teeth like they are supposed to, according to studies. Over 90% of Australians have experienced tooth decay in their permanent teeth, and a good chunk of that number is from people in Brisbane.
With access to excellent dental care, Brisbane residents who are experiencing tooth decay do not get their teeth treated, which leads to dental health problems, like gum disease, cavities and, worse, permanent tooth loss. Because of that, Brisbane patients turn to artificial teeth to replace their missing teeth, and one of the most popular solutions is denture implants or implant-supported dentures.
What is Denture Implant?
As mentioned, denture implants are artificial teeth affixed into the mouth, specifically in the jaw bone, with implants. It is the middle-ground between the standard dentures that use dental adhesives and the more advanced dental implants. You can easily snap them on and off when needed, so cleaning is as easy as maintaining conventional dentures.
The support provided by the implant to the denture allows for a better fixture of the artificial teeth into the mouth, reducing the feeling of bulkiness and providing bigger room for the tongue and the food to move around.
Moreover, patients who go for denture implants can eat almost anything, including foods they cannot typically eat with traditional dentures such as corn cobs, steaks and any hard or chewy food. Most importantly, denture implants significantly improve a person’s confidence to speak and smile since there is no worrying about accidental falling of poorly fitted standard dentures. Get a Cheyenne, WY Dentist to do this.
Denture Implant Procedure
Denture Implants Brisbane City-based is completed in several phases, depending on your jawbone’s health and the implant you will get.
Initial Evaluation
Since denture implants require surgery and take more than one session, your oral surgeon will perform a thorough examination, including an X-ray, to check your jawbone condition closely, as well as discuss the denture fabrication process.
Next, your dentist may also ask about any medical condition, such as heart conditions, and if you are taking any medications. If so, your doctor might prescribe antibiotics before the surgical placement of implants to prevent possibilities of infection. Your specialist will also discuss how many implants to place for a full set of dentures and provide you with a list of dos and don’ts to help you prepare for your surgery.
During the Implant Surgery
The surgery is done in several steps. Typically, this is how Denture Implants Brisbane based dentists do them:
- Remove damaged teeth if they have not been removed yet.
- Preparation of the jawbone, which can include bone grafting if the doctor deems it necessary.
- Once the jawbone is healed, the titanium implants are inserted.
- Give the jaw and the gums time for osseointegration. After this, your dentist will reopen the gum tissue to install the snap, bar, or abutment to the implant and then give the gums time to heal once again, which takes about two weeks.
- After the gums have fully healed, the custom-made dentures are snapped securely to the implant.
Take note that this process can take a couple of months to give your jaw and gums enough time to heal before proceeding to the next step. It is important to let your jaw and gums heal every time to ensure the denture implants stay in place, strong and sturdy.
After the Dental implant Surgery
Expect to experience discomfort after the surgery. The symptoms may include:
- Swelling of the face, particularly in the area where the implants are installed
- Bruising in gums, which can show up also on the skin of the face
- Pain on the spot where the implant is installed
- Minor bleeding
If the symptoms worsen after the surgery, see your surgeon right away. It could be due to implant issues that require immediate professional attention.
To help you heal, your surgeon will provide you with a list of to-dos, such as applying ice packs to ease pain and swelling, what food you can and cannot eat, and when and how to clean your teeth post-operation.
If you think you need denture implants and believe you are a good candidate, talk to your dentist about the procedure. But above all, take good care of your teeth—whether they are natural or artificial.
