Implant Retained Dentures in Milwaukee, WI

Implant-retained dentures are made to mimic natural oral structure as optimally as possible. Your new implant retained dentures should provide you with benefits such as:

• Natural comfort. Snapped into place, your dentures should feel so much like natural teeth that you hardly notice a difference.
• Optimal health. Being a more stable option than traditional dentures, your implant-supported or retained dentures allow you to maintain a well-balanced diet that includes a variety of nutritious foods. 
• Easy care. If you choose fixed dentures, you'll brush your teeth as you normally would. If your overdenture is removable, you'll remove it every day to soak it in an approved cleanser. 
• Optimal confidence. Your artificial teeth are made to complement your complexion and bring out the best in your smile. Affixed to dental implants, these teeth will feel as natural as they look!

Implant Dentures can be fixed (non-removeable) or removable.

Fixed dentures are called bridges and the dentist can remove them but they stay in 24/7. They are usually screw retained but can also be cemented on to dental abutments or chimneys that are screwed into the implants.

Removable implant dentures can snap on to attachments that are screwed into the implants. These are called Snap-on-teeth. They are removable by the patient and they can be thought of as a way to eat, talk and chew with more stable dentures. The more implants you have, the more stable the chewing experience. If someone has a 2 implant overdenture it still can move in the back of the denture and food can still find it's way under the denture acrylic. If you have a 4 implant overdenture, it will be like having 4 legs on your chair. Very stable with less rocking. Six implants can give you more hold, around the arch and can often be converted to a fixed bridge at a later date.

Many implant options can also include a bar. If implants are connected with a bar, the denture has a very stable foundation on which to sit. The denture will be reinforced with metal and have clips internally to clip on to the bar. It's an excellent option and costs more than a traditional snap-on-denture. Once you factor in the cost of the bar and metal re-inforced denture you may be close to affording a totally fixed bridge. Dr. Winter and his associates are happy to discuss what's best for you. You may require a CBCT or CAT scan to assess your bone quality and quantity to see which options are available to you.

Your implant-retained dentures are made of durable materials that are not susceptible to decay. Regardless, it's imperative that you perform the recommended oral care that your dentist advises based on your case and your oral health needs. If you have removable dentures, you may remove the appliance before bed and soak it in an approved solution overnight. After removing the appliance, you'll need to carefully clean your gums around the bar or dental implant posts. If you have dentures that are fixed to dental implants, meaning that they are not removable, your dentist will demonstrate how you should brush your teeth every day. Depending on your situation, you may also be advised to floss. Finally, you can expect the longest-lasting results from your dental implant treatment when you continue seeing your dentist every six months. These visits will examine your gums to make sure they're healthy and free of gum disease, as well as your dentures to make sure they are not developing excessive wear and tear.

Once you've adjusted to your implant-retained dentures, you can expect to eat most if not all of the foods you love to eat. There are a few exceptions. These may include nuts, seeds, and popcorn, all of which might slip under your denture and cause inflammation and irritation to the gums. Your dentist may also recommend that you avoid foods that are very hard or very chewy, such as caramel candy.

You may need to make a few changes to your diet or way of eating as you get used to your new implant-retained dentures. When your implants are newly inserted, you may feel most comfortable eating a soft-food diet that includes yogurt and smoothies, pasta, eggs, and soft-cooked vegetables, for example. In addition to eating softer foods, it can be beneficial to chew slowly and to cut foods into bite-sized pieces. Doing this helps prevent unexpected accidents like biting your lip or cheek while your tongue and mouth get used to your new teeth.

When someone is unfortunate enough to lose their teeth, it doesn't mean that you are doomed to live the rest of your life in dentures. Dentures can affect your taste, chewing ability, saliva, enjoyment of food and longevity. So before you lose your teeth, ask about how to convert to dentures with implants or implant bridges ASAP so you have the bone needed to support implant overdentures or bridges before more costly bone grafting procedures are required.

We tell our patients that dentures are temporary prostheses. No one should ever think that when they get dentures they are done with dentistry as dentures should be relined or remade every 3-5 years. Each replacement denture has less bone than the set before as bone leaves from denture friction and usage. Ask your dentist about our Upgradeable dentistry options and watch Dr. Winter's videos so you know how to plan for a better tomorrow.