When being faced with needing to have all of your teeth removed, you have a few options as far as replacing them goes. If our Mesa, Arizona dentist confirms that you are a good candidate, you may have the following choices: individual implants with crowns, dental implant bridges, all-on-4 implants, traditional dentures, or snap-on dentures.
While these are all good options, we’re going to focus on the most common: traditional dentures and All-on-4 dental implants.
What Is A Traditional Denture?
A traditional denture is an acrylic appliance that covers the entire arch of your jaw and has artificial teeth bonded to the base. The specific teeth used for your dentures are chosen from a variety of different shapes, sizes, and colors to best compliment your facial structure and visual goals.
Dentures rely on suction to stay in place. An upper denture covers the roof of your mouth to form a seal that prevents it from moving. A lower denture sits on your bone ridge.
Pros and Cons of Traditional Dentures
Traditional dentures are the most affordable tooth replacement option, and while they can be made to look very natural, last a very long time, and some people can wear them with no trouble at all, these appliances do come with their disadvantages.
Since upper dentures cover the entire roof of your mouth and both upper and lower appliances go far back into your mouth, it can be challenging for some people with a strong gap reflex to wear them.
The bulkiness of the material can also impair your speech. Most patients will adapt to this but others won’t.
Some people aren’t able to form enough suction to secure the dentures in place. This is especially a challenge with lower dentures where the bone ridge can be quite shallow.
Also, your tongue can be hard to control and may try to constantly kick the denture out 一 especially when speaking. Cheek muscles can also be an issue because they tend to loosen dentures.
Loose dentures result in sore places or painful ulcers in your mouth caused by friction from the constant movement of the hard acrylic appliance. In these cases, dental adhesives may be used to help secure the dentures in place, however, if you find that you’re needing to use an excessive amount and apply it frequently throughout the day, then you should consider a different tooth replacement option.
Traditional dentures are removable, meaning that you can’t sleep in them. In fact, you may even have to remove them after every meal to clean any food debris that might accumulate underneath the plates. Cleaning regular dentures is pretty quick and easy, though.
What Are All-on-4 Implants?
All-on-4 implants, also known as a hybrid or permanent implant denture, combines dental implants and streamlined dentures to replace all of the teeth within an entire arch. Our Mesa, Arizona dentist will begin this process by strategically placing four or more dental implants within the jaw bone, at specific points within the arch.
A full bridge of artificial teeth 一 also known as the all-on-4-implant denture 一 is then made to fit over the implants and is permanently fixed to them. It is not removable like a denture.
Pros and Cons of All-on-4 Implants
All-on-4 implants are very natural-looking. They do not impair your speech or make you gag because they are much less bulky than traditional dentures.
All-on-4 implants are more affordable than getting individual implants since there is not one implant per missing tooth, but they do cost quite a bit more than traditional dentures alone. Also, there is a lengthier healing period than with regular dentures.
Since All-on-4 implants are permanently fixed, you won’t have to worry about removing them at night, but you will have to clean underneath them which will be more tedious and time-consuming. We recommend that you visit the dentist regularly so that we can remove the appliance for you and clean everything properly. Doing so will keep your gum tissue, implants, and jaw bone healthy while preserving the quality of your appliance.
Teeth Replacement Options in Mesa, Arizona
If you’re already missing all of your teeth or are thinking that it may be time to have them all removed, then you should call Eastport Dental to schedule a tooth replacement consultation.
You may be a great candidate for All-on-4 dentures or other tooth-replacement option. Our Mesa dentist and experienced team will work diligently with you to ensure that we provide you with the best resources and treatment options available.
Give Eastport Dental a call today. We look forward to meeting you and seeing your life transform!
