How Many Implants Do You Need for Permanent Dentures?

After losing all your teeth in the upper or lower jaw, you may consider traditional dentures to replace them, hoping they will not slide and shift and pose challenges when talking and eating. However, if you have apprehensions about conventional dentures, dental implants offer you an excellent alternative because they are firmly embedded in your jawbone to leave you without concerns about them slipping or shifting out of place to create embarrassing situations.

When considering dental implants for permanent dentures, you may wonder how many implants you will need to support your denture. The number of implants can vary but cannot exceed two to eight per jaw. To determine how many implants you need, it helps if you answer the following questions.

Implants needed for Dentures of the Upper and Lower Jaws

Your upper jawbone is softer, making it essential for more implants to be placed to secure the dental prosthesis. You will need at least four implants for a complete upper denture. Your lower jawbone is dense, confirming fewer implants are necessary to stabilize permanent dentures. Occasionally two implants may suffice if the lower jawbone is strong and healthy.

Is Your Jawbone Robust?

If you have adequate jawbone, the dentist in Humble, TX, will decide to place fewer lengthy implants. However, if your jawbone has deteriorated, they will decide on placing more shorter implants. The health of your jawbone can increase the cost of your treatment. You may benefit from fewer implant placements if you can undergo a bone grafting procedure to augment your jaw with additional bone to create a stronger foundation.

Are You Affected by Bruxism?

Bruxism causes people to grind and clench their teeth, making them have a more prominent jaw resulting from the movement. In such cases, you will need more implants to secure your replacement teeth and minimize the chances of breaking from the pressure.

Are You Looking for Fixed or Removable Replacement Teeth?

Many patients prefer dentures to remain in their mouths like permanent teeth, while others prefer removing them for cleaning. Generally, removable dentures require fewer implants than fixed dentures.

Eventually, the optimal way to determine how many implants you may require is to schedule an appointment to consult with your implant dentist. The dentist can conduct a comprehensive exam and work with you to develop a treatment plan that best suits your needs.

Which Are Much Better, Fixed or Removable Dentures?

The decision to have fixed teeth dentures in Humble or removable is entirely your discretion. Consider the fixed version if you prefer having artificial replacement teeth in your mouth throughout the day and night. However, if you feel a removable dental prosthesis better suits your needs, you can discuss your choice with the dentist, especially if you do not want to invest in additional implants in your jaw. Whether you choose fixed or removable dentures, the prosthesis will restore your eating, smiling, and speaking abilities to prevent the consequences of tooth loss from affecting you. Therefore it helps if you choose carefully after a discussion with the Humble dentist for getting the replacement teeth in your mouth.

Caring for Your Permanent Implant-Supported Dentures

Caring for implant-supported dentures is not challenging if you are accustomed to maintaining excellent dental hygiene. Dentures need brushing and flossing daily to remove food particles and dental plaque constantly accumulating on them and your gums. Removable implant-supported dentures enable you to clean your gums after removing the dental prosthesis to ensure you don’t become a victim of infections or bad breath because of dental plaque accumulation on your gums. On the contrary, you will need regular dental exams with fixed implant-supported dentures to receive checkups and cleanings from them to avoid dental infections.

Tooth loss burdens you with many challenges you find difficult to overcome without your natural teeth. Your jawbone starts deteriorating and becomes prone to infections because food particles remain trapped in your gums. In addition, the deterioration makes you appear older by sagging your face, besides causing problems with indigestion because you are compelled to swallow large chunks instead of biting and chewing foods. If you choose to have dentures to replace your missing teeth, you have many options, unlike earlier when traditional dentures were your only choice. When considering implant-supported dentures, you must choose carefully after a discussion with the Humble dentist before undergoing a procedure requiring surgery and a lengthy healing time before you get replacement teeth in your mouth.

If missing teeth in a jaw affect aesthetics, eating abilities, and speech and cause other problems, Charm Dental — Humble helps overcome the challenge by providing implant-supported dentures. Consult them today to plan your treatment receiving minimal implants in your jaw to support a whole arch of teeth in the upper or lower jaw.