If you’re looking for a quality lower denture stabilizer, denture adhesives can feel like a Band-Aid fix. Adhesives may temporarily keep your dentures in place, but they don’t always prevent the slipping, shifting, and discomfort that make eating and speaking difficult. Instead of searching for the right product to bond lower dentures, consider dental implants for long-term stability. At Aesthetic Dental, Dr. Diane Hines offers two types of dental implants to support lower denture stabilization without messy adhesives: conventional dental implants and smaller, less invasive mini dental implants.
Dr. Hines has been serving patients in Southfield and the metro Detroit area for over 30 years. At a free consultation, she can explain how dental implants provide a long-term solution to lock down your lower denture once and for all.
Why Lower Dentures Are More Challenging Than Upper Dentures
Loose dentures are common, and the fit of the lower denture is especially bothersome. One study found that 52% of denture wearers were completely satisfied with their upper denture fit, while only 24% were completely satisfied with their lower denture fit.
Why do patients have more trouble with their lower denture compared to an upper denture? An upper denture covers the roof of the mouth, giving it a larger surface for support and a seal. A lower denture has less surface area for support and cannot achieve the same broad seal because it must leave room for the tongue. When you eat, speak, or swallow, your tongue and the muscles beneath it can move your lower denture out of place. That makes lower dentures more challenging to stabilize, even when they are well made.
When lower dentures don’t stay in place, they shift and slide. Moving dentures can make chewing difficult and cause sore spots as the denture base rubs against the gums. You may also find speaking difficult and feel especially uncomfortable when food gets trapped under the dentures. Over time, your denture fit can worsen as the jawbone and gum tissues supporting it shrink and change shape.
Lower Denture Stabilization With Dental Implants at Aesthetic Dental
Dr. Hines stabilizes lower dentures by adding O-ring housings under the false teeth and placing dental implants in the jawbone. The housings connect to the implants, helping hold your denture securely in place.
You may hear that conventional dental implants can stabilize dentures, but that’s not your only option. At Aesthetic Dental, we offer two types of dental implants that can secure loose lower dentures. Dr. Hines can use traditional or mini dental implants to provide a more stable foundation for your denture. The right approach depends on factors like your jawbone health and treatment goals.
Denture Stabilization With Conventional Dental Implants
Conventional dental implants may suit patients with enough healthy jawbone available. Traditional dental implants have multiple components, and placement typically happens over multiple visits. To place conventional dental implants, Dr. Hines must make a large surgical incision in the gums to expose the bone before securing the implant post. Then, you’ll need to wait for the post to integrate into the jawbone, which can take several months.
After that, Dr. Hines can secure an abutment on top of each implant before stabilizing your denture. Typically, Dr. Hines uses two conventional dental implants to stabilize dentures.
However, patients with significant jawbone loss may not have enough healthy bone to support conventional implants. In these cases, bone grafting may be necessary to create enough support for the larger implants. Fortunately, mini dental implants may offer another option.
Denture Stabilization With Mini Dental Implants
For patients with limited jawbone volume, Dr. Hines may recommend mini dental implants to stabilize lower dentures. These implants are 40% smaller than conventional dental implants. Because they’re smaller, Dr. Hines can often place them where conventional implants won’t fit, potentially eliminating the need for bone grafting.
Placing mini implants is minimally invasive. To place the smaller, one-piece implant, Dr. Hines makes a small hole in the gums and secures it into the jawbone. To stabilize lower dentures with mini implants, Dr. Hines typically uses four mini dental implants to secure the lower denture. Because the procedure is so gentle on the surrounding tissues, we can often stabilize a denture the same day we place the implants.
When conventional dental implants aren’t an option, mini dental implants can still give you a stable lower denture.
Take the Next Step to a Stable Lower Denture
If you’re tired of struggling with a loose lower denture, you don’t have to rely on adhesives and repeated adjustments to keep your teeth in place. Mini dental implants offer a more secure, long-term solution that can make everyday activities like eating and speaking more comfortable. Even if you’ve experienced jawbone loss or have been told you’re not a candidate for conventional implants, mini implants may work for you.
At Aesthetic Dental, Dr. Hines is here to help! She will evaluate your anatomy and determine your options for lower denture stabilization. Book a free consultation today.
