Mini Implant Stabilized Dentures in Melbourne, FL

Among Florida’s older adults, 47% used upper dentures, 40% used lower dentures, and 35% used both, according to a Florida Department of Health survey. Whether you have experienced significant tooth loss and are considering denture options or looking for a solution to loose and ill-fitting dentures, mini implant stabilized dentures are the premier solution.

At Designing Smiles, Dr. Apel has over 30 years of experience providing high-quality dental care to residents of Melbourne. Recognizing the transformative power of mini dental implants, Dr. Apel specializes in stabilizing his patients’ dentures with these pioneering devices.

Traditional Dentures: The Conventional Option

You likely envision traditional dentures when you hear the word “dentures.” You might even have your own. These are fake teeth on a large gum-colored base that sit on top of your gums. Two types of traditional dentures are used depending on the extent of tooth loss: full and partial dentures.

Full dentures replace all the teeth on your top arch, bottom arch, or both arches. They are usually made from acrylic and have a lifespan of about 5-10 years. Because they don’t attach to your jawbone, they rely on either the roof of your mouth or the bottom ridge of your jawbone for support.

Partial dentures are similar, but they are used to replace several missing teeth. These dentures contain artificial teeth, a gum-colored base, and clasps made of metal or acrylic. The clasps attach to your remaining natural teeth for stability. Partial dentures typically last for up to 15 years when well-maintained.

Both full and partial dentures are removable and must be taken out each night for cleaning.

The Drawbacks of Traditional Dentures

While traditional dentures have long been used to replace missing teeth, they simply cannot replicate the look, feel, and function of natural teeth.

A common complaint among individuals who use traditional dentures is their tendency to pop out while eating, speaking, laughing, or coughing. This is not only frustrating and embarrassing: slipping and sliding dentures become loose and ill-fitting over time, leading to additional shifting that can cause gum irritation and mouth sores. As a result, the dentures must be periodically refitted or remade. While some people use adhesive to help secure their dentures, this added expense is often messy and can leave a metallic taste in your mouth.

In terms of function, conventional dentures reduce an individual’s chewing ability because they cannot withstand the same bite forces as natural teeth. This makes it difficult to maintain a healthy diet since certain foods, like raw vegetables, can be difficult to eat with dentures. Upper dentures also impact the wearer’s ability to taste food and drinks completely because they cover the upper palate.

One of the long-term problems of traditional dentures is that they cannot prevent bone or tissue loss the way mini implant stabilized dentures can. Because traditional dentures do not replace the missing tooth roots, the jawbone does not receive the stimulation it needs. This leads to facial collapse, a condition that makes you look older than you are due to the shrunken appearance of your face.

These are just some of the issues of traditional dentures that can take a toll on your quality of life. Fortunately, mini implant stabilized dentures provide a suitable alternative that resolves these issues.

Mini Implant Stabilized Dentures: The Superior Solution

Mini implant stabilized dentures provide a secure solution for replacing missing teeth. The mini dental implants are prosthetic tooth roots made from durable titanium. The metal post is screwed into the jawbone to provide long-lasting support for a dental appliance like a denture. On the end of the post opposite the screw is a small ball that attaches to the denture with a rubber O-ring.

Revolutionary mini implants offer a range of benefits, especially when compared to large traditional implants:

Small size: Mini implants are about the width of a toothpick, measuring less than 3 mm in diameter. That’s half the size of traditional dental implants. As a result, mini implants are the best solution for individuals with narrow jawbones.
Minimally invasive procedure: To place a mini implant, Dr. Apel only needs to make a small hole before screwing the implant into your jawbone. The minimally invasive placement reduces discomfort and helps you heal quickly.
Immediate results: Mini implants can be placed in a single office visit. If you want to anchor your existing denture with mini implants, you will be able to leave the office with an implant-secured denture that can be used right away.
Long-lasting: Mini dental implants can last a lifetime with proper care.
Quick recovery: Most patients can resume their normal daily activities within 24-48 hours after Dr. Apel places the implants.

Another significant benefit of implant stabilized dentures is related to bone health. The only way to prevent facial collapse from bone deterioration is to secure the dentures with dental implants. Because mini implants are prosthetic tooth roots, they provide the jawbone with the stimulation it needs to stay healthy after tooth loss.

Types of Mini Implant Stabilized Dentures

We offer different types of mini implant stabilized dentures depending on your specific needs, preferences, and budget.

Overdentures

If you wear or plan to wear dentures, you might consider removable implant overdentures, also known as snap-on dentures. Overdentures are similar in look to traditional dentures but snap onto mini implants to provide stability. If you have a pre-existing denture that is in good condition and has enough room inside, we can often retrofit the denture to snap onto the mini implants. Overdentures are the most economical implant denture option, especially if you have existing dentures that can be adjusted to fit atop mini implants.

We can stabilize a lower denture with 4-6 mini dental implants and an upper denture with 6-8 mini implants. With overdentures, you can be confident that your dentures aren’t going to move.

Semi-Removable Roundhouse Bridge

Like overdentures, semi-removable roundhouse bridges, or Fix on Six® bridges, snap onto the mini implants but use tighter O-rings. These are taken out only by Dr. Apel when you come in for your regular checkups. During these appointments, Dr. Apel will clean the denture and assess its condition to prevent any issues from developing.

Depending on the quality of your jawbone, we place between 6-10 mini implants to support a semi-removable roundhouse bridge. Because these dentures connect to more implants, they offer greater strength and chewing ability.

Non-Removable Roundhouse Bridge

Another option is the non-removable roundhouse bridge. For these dentures, we place between 10-12 mini implants and then cement the bridge to the implants. If you prefer a permanently fixed option, a cemented roundhouse bridge might be right for you.

While these dentures are the most expensive, they offer unparalleled results. Non-removable roundhouse bridges function just like your natural teeth.

The Mini Implant Denture Process

At your free consultation, we will help you determine which mini implant stabilized dentures suit you best. The next steps in the implant denture process depend on whether you already have dentures that are in good shape. If you have a current denture in good condition, we can stabilize the denture in as little as 1-2 visits. If you don’t already have dentures, it might take a few weeks as we place the implants and then fabricate a custom denture that perfectly fits your mouth and meets your shade preferences.

Mini Implant Stabilized Dentures at Designing Smiles

Experience the relief of securely anchored dentures that restore your smile and grant the full functionality of your natural bite. With various implant denture options, you can regain the joy of eating, speaking, and smiling without worry.

While it can be difficult to know which dentures are best for you, we will gladly discuss all of your options at your free consultation. Contact us today to learn more about mini implant stabilized dentures.