What Is a Denture Alternative? An Implant Denture Guide

Wouldn’t it be nice if your dentures never fell out? Envision a scenario where they have excellent chewing power, a strong bite force, don’t shift, and give you a beautiful smile. Does it sound hard to imagine? Perhaps it does, but we’re here to tell you it’s closer to reality than you think. There is an excellent denture alternative, possibly even two, that can help you achieve this vision. At the Centre for Smile Designs, Dr. John Hopkins provides these advanced solutions to many patients like you who are looking for better, stable options!

Why Traditional Dentures Fall Short

Eating a juicy steak or crunchy, buttery corn on the cob feels nearly impossible with traditional dentures. Their bite force isn’t as strong as your natural teeth, and chewing just takes forever. This could lead to you swallowing your food in bigger bites, which can cause digestive issues. These are just a few drawbacks of traditional dentures. Unfortunately, there are more.

Perhaps the biggest drawback of traditional dentures is their inability to mimic your tooth roots. A tooth has several structural components. One of them is the crown, which is the visible portion protruding from the gums, and another is the root, the part embedded into the jawbone. Your tooth roots are extremely important for jawbone strength. Through chewing, they stimulate the jawbone, which helps keep it healthy and functioning properly. When you lose a tooth, you also lose the root, so you’re losing that necessary stimulation. It can lead to bone loss, additional tooth loss, and even alter your appearance.

You can avoid these complications with a denture alternative. Implant dentures are among the most notable solutions, thanks to their incorporation of mini dental implants.

Implant Denture: A Long-lasting Denture Alternative

An implant denture is a durable and advanced alternative to traditional dentures. They use mini dental implants for ultimate support. A mini dental implant is a small, screw-like titanium post with a ball-shaped head, also known as an O-ball. It snaps your denture into place perfectly.

A mini dental implant is typically less than 3 mm in diameter. Its post is slim and has a threaded design that allows it to anchor securely in your jawbone. Unlike traditional dental implants, which are larger and consist of two pieces, mini implants are a single piece. The single unit allows for immediate loading so that we can attach your teeth on the same day as the implant placement.

There are three options for implant dentures: snap-on denture, Fix-on-Six, and a fixed roundhouse. A snap-on denture uses only four to eight mini implants for support. As the name suggests, it snaps on and off for easy cleaning at home. Fix-on-Six uses six to ten mini dental implants and is semi-removable. Only Dr. Hopkins can remove it for you at your cleaning appointments. A fixed roundhouse is a permanent option. Dr. Hopkins cements the denture to your implants, creating a highly durable alternative to dentures. You cannot remove them for cleaning. Simply care for them the way you would your natural teeth.

All of this is possible with mini dental implants, an extremely effective tooth replacement option.

The Benefits of Mini Dental Implants

As we mentioned above, mini dental implants are made from titanium. This biocompatible material fuses naturally with your jawbone. By doing so, your jaw becomes stronger and healthier.

With mini dental implants, healing time is significantly reduced. Patients often recover in just a few weeks compared to months for traditional implants. In many cases, Dr. Hopkins can attach your false teeth on the same day he places the implant, so you don’t have to go without teeth during the healing process.

These slim implants are generally more affordable than traditional implants, thanks to their smaller size, simpler procedure, and fewer required appointments. Wondering if you’re eligible for mini implants? The good news is that most people are! The easiest way to find out is by visiting our office.

Find Your Denture Alternative With Dr. John Hopkins Today

You no longer have to imagine a life with stable, healthy teeth. You also don’t have to continue struggling with loose, shifting dentures. At the Centre for Smile Designs, we can provide you with durable, high-quality solutions you need for a stronger, happier smile. We offer free consultations for dental implants, so arrange your visit today! Together, we can get you the perfect smile with the stability and comfort you need.