Traditional dentures have been around for centuries. At first, they were made from wire and human or animal teeth. Then, materials like wood and ivory were used, before dentists moved on to using hardened rubber and plastics in the 1800s. In our current day and age, we use a durable acrylic base to support porcelain teeth. While these prosthetics have come a long way since the 1800s, they still leave a lot to be desired in terms of stability. Our patients in Southfield, MI, often complain about loose dentures affecting their ability to eat and function. If you’re looking for denture alternatives that stay secure, visit Aesthetic Dental! We offer a variety of denture options to keep your smile stable.
How Denture Alternatives Improve Your Oral Health
Traditional dentures replace your missing teeth, but not missing tooth roots.
The roots of your teeth lie below your gums and are embedded in your jawbone. Whenever you bite or chew, these roots stimulate the bone, keeping it healthy! But after losing teeth, you lose that stimulation, causing your jaw to deteriorate over time. Traditional dentures replace the surface of your missing teeth, but not the roots, allowing your bone to shrink underneath them.
And because these prosthetics rely on your jawbone for support, they’re not very stable. Loose dentures make everyday tasks, like eating and speaking clearly, more difficult. Fortunately, Aesthetic Dental helps solve this problem with dental implants!
Dental implants are titanium screws that we embed in your jaw to replace your missing tooth roots. Once they integrate with your bone, they form a strong connection that we use to stabilize dentures. With implant-supported dentures, you can enjoy all the foods you love without hesitation or discomfort.
Our Denture Alternatives
At Aesthetic Dental in Southfield, MI, we offer a few denture alternatives that use dental implants for support. In some cases, we may even be able to use mini dental implants, which are minimally invasive and about half the cost of conventional implants. To determine which implant denture is best for your smile, we encourage you to schedule a free consultation to discuss your options.
Our traditional denture alternatives include:
Snap-In Dentures
A snap-in denture is a removable prosthetic that fits on 4 to 8 mini implants. It has a similar base to a traditional denture, but without the bulky upper denture plate.
Pros
- Comfort: Compared to traditional dentures, snap-in dentures are much more comfortable! They have a smaller denture base that frees up your taste buds, and they fit securely over implants to prevent movement.
- Convenience: Snap-in dentures are removable, as you can “snap” them on and off your implants with ease. This makes cleaning your dentures and around your implants easier.
- Price: While implant dentures are more expensive than traditional dentures, snap-in prosthetics are the least expensive denture alternative that we offer.
Cons
- Bulky: Snap-in dentures are sleeker than traditional prosthetics, but they still have a large denture base that some patients find uncomfortable.
- Maintenance: While the ability to remove your dentures is convenient, not everyone wants to be responsible for removing and reinserting them. Some patients may find non-removable restorations more appealing and less work.
Semi-Removable Roundhouse Bridge
A roundhouse bridge functions like a denture by replacing all of your missing teeth. But rather than using a bulky denture base, these prosthetics have a sleeker design. Semi-removable roundhouse bridges are supported by 6 to 10 mini implants.
Pros
- Natural looking: Roundhouse bridges resemble an arch of teeth bonded together. When in place, they look incredibly natural and reduce the discomfort patients may associate with a bulky denture base.
- Easy maintenance: Semi-removable roundhouse bridges are never removed by you. This design makes them a great option for patients who don’t want to worry about removing their dentures.
- Best of both worlds: While you never remove these dentures, we will during routine dental visits. These check-ups help keep your smile healthy without you having to lift a finger.
Cons
- Less control: For patients who want to remove their prosthetic whenever they want, semi-removable roundhouse bridges may not be the right choice. You’ll need to book an appointment to remove your prosthetic.
- Bone quality: Dental implants need sufficient bone structure to secure in place. However, not all patients have enough bone, making implant treatment more difficult. While mini implants generally fit into smaller amounts of bone, not everyone will be eligible for implant treatment.
Non-Removable Roundhouse Bridge
A non-removable roundhouse bridge is similar to a semi-removable roundhouse bridge, except not even we will remove it. We place 10 to 12 mini implants in your jawbone and cement the prosthetic in place to restore your smile.
Pros
- Natural feeling: Not only are non-removable roundhouse bridges natural looking, but also natural feeling! These restorations are never removed, so they feel and function just like your natural teeth.
- Incredible strength: With 10 to 12 mini implants for support, these restorations are super strong and durable. These dentures can chew all the foods you love without worry.
- Easy maintenance: Because these prosthetics function like natural teeth, you can take care of them like natural teeth, too. Simply brush and floss regularly, and attend your routine dental visits.
Cons
- Cost: Non-removable roundhouse bridges use the most implants, so they’re the most expensive implant denture we offer. While we have ways to make your dentures more affordable, price is still something our patients may consider.
- Surgery: All implant dentures require the surgical placement of dental implants. And while mini dental implants are minimally invasive, some patients may still be wary of any oral surgeries.
Find Denture Alternatives in Southfield, MI
Traditional dentures have evolved over centuries to become what they are today. But when your dentures keep loosening in your mouth, there are other alternatives. At Aesthetic Dental, we offer implant-supported dentures that anchor to your jawbone. These prosthetics stay secure and offer a wide variety of options for patients to choose from. Book a free consultation with us in Southfield, MI, to learn which is right for your smile!
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