Are you wearing traditional dentures that are wobbly and poorly fitted? If so, permanent dentures in Ottawa may offer a better teeth replacement solution for you.
If you had one or more teeth removed, Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre offers numerous treatment options to restore the beauty and function of your smile. Among other methods, denture prosthetics provide one of the most cost-effective options for replacing multiple teeth.
However, if poorly fitted, removable dentures may start to shift over time, hindering eating and speech abilities, as well as causing discomfort. The extended wearing of removable dentures can also result in jaw bone loss, while sticky and messy adhesives don’t provide the most stable way of holding your artificial teeth in position.
In many ways, permanent dentures provide a more functional and long-lasting alternative to removable ones.
What are Permanent Dentures in Ottawa?
Permanent dentures, also known as “fixed” or “non-removable dentures”, present prosthetic devices that are held in position by dental implants. With this type of dentures, a row of prosthetic teeth is connected to a special framework, which, in turn, is attached to the dental implants. Unlike conventional dentures, these snap-in dentures are non-removable.
A full arch of implant dentures allows patients with significant tooth loss to eat, bite, chew, smile, and talk without the fear that the prosthetic device may slip and slide when they do these regular activities.
Who Should Get Non-Removable Dentures?
Permanent denture implants are an option for patients that have sufficient bone quantity and quality to support dental implants. They are usually recommended for individuals who are missing or have damage to multiple teeth in the same arch.
Permanent Denture Procedure
With non-removable dentures in Ottawa, having a systematic and strategic treatment plan for replacing missing teeth is prudent. Here is what you can expect from your dental appointment steps:
1. Consultation
Every dental implant treatment starts with a consultation. During your initial consultation appointment, Dr. Koniouchine will review your overall oral health and determine whether you are a good candidate for permanent dentures. He will describe all the pros and cons of the treatment in detail and will discuss alternative teeth replacement options like removable implant-supported overdentures or partial dentures.
If you decide to proceed with the permanent option, you will need to undergo a comprehensive dental exam, alongside diagnostic records like study models and dental X-rays. Based on this, Dr. Koniouchine will develop a customized treatment plan just for you. For example, you may need to be treated for gum disease, undergo tooth extractions, or require a bone graft before dental implants can be placed.
2. Dental Implant Placement
Permanent dentures require 4 to 6 dental implants placed in your jawbone. During the second appointment, Dr. Koniouchine will conduct a dental implant surgery and send you home with temporary dentures that feel, look, and function similar to natural teeth.
If the thought of dental implant placements makes you too anxious – don’t worry, at Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre, we offer a variety of dental sedation options, including Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas), intravenous, and oral sedation.
3. Post-Procedure Check-Up
After your dental implant procedure, you can expect to go through a certain recovery period. Generally, patients will need to eat soft foods for a few weeks or months while their dental implants heal.
During this period, you will be invited for several post-operative checkups to ensure that everything is healing properly. If you have some teeth remaining in the opposing jaw, it is important to continue your scheduled dental cleaning appointments during this period of time.
4. Permanent Teeth Placement
Finally, after your dental implants have stabilized and your jawbone has finished healing (approximately 6 months after implant placement), your temporary teeth will be replaced with the permanent set of dentures.
What to Expect After the Procedure
After the placement of dental implants, it is common to experience certain discomfort. The most common side effects of dental surgery include bruising and swelling of your face and gums. In addition, you might experience minor bleeding and feel soreness and pain around the implant.
You can use over-the-counter pain medications and cold compresses to keep swelling and pain under control. You may also be prescribed antibiotics to prevent infection. Finally, gently rinsing your mouth with salt water can help to speed up the healing process as well.
Keep track of your symptoms and, if they get worse or persist, call our office for a checkup.
Health Benefits of Permanent Dentures
Unlike conventional dentures, non-removable ones never come out of place! Your new permanent set of teeth will interfere less with your life, and you will find it easier to enjoy your meals and talk.
However, there are several other benefits of having non-removable dentures in addition to their unarguable convenience:
1. No Sore Spots
Traditional dentures are likely to cause rubbed areas and sore spots in your mouth, especially if the prosthesis doesn’t fit quite right. Since permanent dentures are anchored onto implant abutments rather than being placed over your gums, there is no risk of the prosthetic becoming loose and rubbing against your soft tissues when you chew, bite or talk.
2. Increased Bone Quality and Quantity
Dental implants are the only tooth restoration option that actually stimulates bone growth in your mouth. Placing each dental implant in your jawbone causes new bone to develop around the implant, supporting the teeth restoration and strengthening your jaw at the same time.
3. A Balanced Diet
Quite often, older family members experience health issues caused by difficulty eating. If chewing is challenging, it often leads to decreased nutritional intake and considerable weight loss. With non-removable dentures, it is much easier to chew, bite, and consume delicious and nutrient-rich foods.
4. Fewer Treatment Needs
Unlike other tooth replacement options, dental implants can last you an entire lifetime with proper care. They are even believed to be stronger than natural tooth roots, which means that they can support your implant-retained snap-in denture for many years to come. While the acrylic teeth themselves will wear over time and will eventually require replacement, dental implants themselves are a life-long investment.
5. Better Facial Support
Over time, conventional dentures lead to loss of facial structure, which leads to marionette lines, witch’s chin, and wrinkles. Permanent alternatives, on the other hand, provide constant support to your lips and cheeks.
6. No Dangerous Ingredients
Permanent dentures are supported by dental implants, which means that they do not require the use of adhesive materials in your mouth. Many times, the paste or gel that people use to keep their false teeth in place contains zinc as one of the ingredients. According to FDA, this adhesive can lead to increased levels of the mineral in your body, which, in turn, could lead to nerve damage in your feet and hands.
7. Additional Advantages
Other advantages of permanently fixed dentures include:
- Support for facial features, providing patients with a more youthful, natural look
- Better fit and optimal comfort as compared to removable types of dentures
- Customization ensures that prosthetics fit your mouth precisely
- Deliver a more even distribution of biting force
- Fuss-free maintenance – no need to take your prosthetic teeth out for cleaning
- Minimal number of dental implants required
- Better functionality in terms of eating and speaking abilities as compared to traditional complete dentures
- Shorter surgery and healing times as compared to conventional implants, as well as less post-op discomfort and less invasive procedure overall
- Long-lasting and robust
What are the Considerations for Wearing Non-Removable Dentures?
Even though permanent dentures are relatively safe, the process does involve a surgical procedure. As with any other oral surgery, there is a risk of infection and inflammation. However, with regular dental appointments and proper cleaning, most patients won’t experience any inflammation, infection, or other dental ailments.
Furthermore, while non-removable dentures cost more as compared to the traditional alternative, in the long-run, the benefits far outweigh the costs.
Restore Your Smile with Fixed Dentures from Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre
Are you looking for a permanent solution to missing teeth? Implant-supported permanent dentures in Ottawa might be the right option for you!
At Rockcliffe Dental & Denture Centre, we use a variety of implant placement techniques and dental technology that can make dental implants a great choice for just about anyone.
Give us a call today to schedule your consultation and find out how permanent dentures in Ottawa can improve your quality of life.
Read More: