Caring for your natural teeth is pretty straightforward – brush and floss daily and visit the dentist regularly. But if you wear dentures, oral hygiene can be confusing. After all, you can’t exactly brush your dentures…or can you? Actually, when you choose implant-supported dentures, including All-on-4®, regular care is nearly identical to caring for biological teeth.
Dr. Chris Tye of Texas Oral Surgery Specialists offers state-of-the-art implant-supported dentures at his Colleyville, TX, practice. In addition to performing precise and comfortable surgery, he will offer tips and guidance in caring for your new prosthetic.
To learn more about implant-supported dentures or to find out if you are a candidate for treatment, contact our office today.
The Different Types of Dentures
There are two sizes of dentures. Full dentures replace all teeth on the top or bottom dental arch (or both). Partial dentures replace a large number of adjacent missing teeth.
But dentures also vary in the way they are fixed in the mouth. Options include:
- Traditional dentures: Standard dentures are removable. A pink plastic base and denture adhesive keep them in place. Traditional partial dentures also clip on to the nearby teeth with small metal clasps.
- Implant-retained dentures: Implant-retained dentures rest atop surgically positioned dental implants. But they simply snap on to the exposed tops of the implants and, like traditional dentures, are removable.
- Implant-supported dentures: Implant-supported dentures are the most realistic option. These also connect to implant posts. However, they are permanently affixed in the mouth. Further, full dentures often require fewer implants for support, which is what makes techniques like All-on-4® possible.
Caring for Implant-Retained Dentures
Caring for implant-retained dentures is similar to caring for traditional prosthetics. As with standard dentures, you will need to remove your denture while you sleep, soaking it in a denture solution overnight. You will also need to take out the prosthetic to clean and bush it thoroughly each day.
Appropriate care will help denture last as long as possible. However, studies show that even with proper maintenance, implant-retained dentures don’t last as long as implant-supported restorations.
Caring for Implant-Supported Dentures
If you’ve researched dental prosthetics, you know that implant-supported dentures are the most realistic option for eating and speaking. But they are also the most natural in terms of oral hygiene!
To maintain your permanent denture, brush your teeth twice daily with a soft-bristled brush and standard toothpaste. You should also use antimicrobial mouthwash and visit the dentist at least twice a year.
The only difference is when it comes to flossing, as you will need to floss beneath the denture and along the gum line. A floss threader or water flosser can help you access this hard-to-reach area.
Learn More about Denture Care and Dental Implants
Ready to explore your restorative dentistry options? Send us a message online or give us a call at (817) 552-3223.
Dr. Tye is proud to serve patients in the greater Fort Worth area, including Colleyville, Southlake, and Grapevine.