The prevalence of complete tooth loss among those 65 and older in the United States is around 13%. Unfortunately, this prevalence only increases with age. The older you are, the more susceptible you become to decay and infection. When gum disease or tooth decay goes untreated, it worsens over time, damaging your jawbone and eventually leading to tooth loss! After experiencing total tooth loss, patients like you often try traditional dentures to restore their smile. While effective at first, these prosthetics are notorious for loosening over time. To restore your smile securely, Dr. Magno at San Francisco East Bay Mini Dental Implants recommends a snap-on bridge! This denture replaces your missing teeth and is anchored to your jawbone with mini dental implants, providing a stable solution for tooth loss.
The Importance of a Stable Smile
Natural teeth have roots that extend into your jaw. These roots press down into your jawbone every time you bite or chew, providing stimulation that keeps your bone healthy.
However, after tooth loss, your bone loses these important roots, missing out on stimulation. Very quickly after tooth loss, your bone will begin to lose mass and volume. Over time, as your jaw shrinks, any denture prosthetic you have will lose its fit, resulting in loose dentures.
Loose dentures cause a variety of problems for patients, including:
- Enunciation issues: To speak clearly, you need a stable smile. Full use of your teeth and tongue is essential for clear speech, and with loose dentures, many patients experience slurred words and problems communicating.
- Sore gums: As your prosthetic slides around in your mouth, it often irritates your gum tissues. Sore gums can make wearing your denture painful and cause actual sores to open up in your mouth.
- Chewing difficulties: To break down food efficiently, you need a secure, powerful bite. Loose dentures make it difficult to eat certain foods, potentially leading to drastic diet changes and a lack of nutrition.
Fortunately, dental implants can secure your denture in place and stop bone loss in its tracks!
Using Dental Implants To Secure Your Denture
Dental implants are titanium posts that we place in your jawbone to replace missing tooth roots. Not only do these implants provide the necessary stimulation to keep your jawbone healthy, but they also serve as a strong foundation for your denture restoration!
However, conventional dental implants are quite large in diameter, making it difficult for many patients to restore their smiles. Those who have lost significant bone structure due to tooth loss typically lack the bone mass necessary to support dental implants.
At San Francisco East Bay Mini Dental Implants, Dr. Magno recommends that those who aren’t eligible for conventional implants try mini dental implants!
These small titanium posts secure even in minimal bone, often without the need for additional procedures that conventional implants require. Instead, Dr. Magno places these implants in a single appointment, with no incisions or large drills necessary.
Using a minimally invasive process, she gently secures the implant in your bone, where it immediately begins stabilizing. Afterward, she can typically place a temporary restoration on top, restoring your smile in just one day! After a few weeks of healing, your implants should be secure enough to support a denture restoration.
Snap-on Bridge Solutions in Emeryville, CA
Dr. Magno offers implant denture solutions that range in removability. One of them stands out above the rest by combining the convenience of removability with the strength of a permanent prosthesis!
A snap-on bridge (also known as a semi-removable roundhouse bridge) is a denture that you never remove! This prosthetic is secured by 6 to 10 mini dental implants, strategically placed around your jawbone. Once your implants are secure, she will attach a sleek-looking denture that eliminates the need for a large portion of the traditional denture base.
By removing your upper denture plate, Dr. Magno creates a more natural-looking prosthetic. This not only takes up less space in your mouth, but is typically more comfortable for patients. Then, once secure on your implants, your snap-on bridge will stay in place, never to be removed by you.
However, it’s important to note that while you never remove a snap-on bridge, Dr. Magno will during routine dental cleanings. To ensure your gums and implants remain healthy, she’ll need to carefully “snap” your prosthetic off to perform a professional cleaning. Afterward, she will “snap” it back on securely.
Restore Your Smile With a Snap-On Bridge!
If you’re an older adult experiencing total tooth loss, Dr. Magno recommends restoring your smile with a snap-on bridge! This semi-removable denture is secured in your smile with 6 to 10 mini implants. While you never remove it, Dr. Magno will remove it to keep your smile healthy and to provide a strong, stable restoration!
Book an appointment at San Francisco East Bay Mini Dental Implants to learn if you’re eligible for a snap-on bridge solution.
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